STREET lights in North Yorkshire may be replaced with more environmentally-friendly versions which reduce energy costs and light pollution.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive will be meeting to consider a report which recommends replacing all its street lights with new LED technology over the next three years.

County Councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for Highways said the lamps use considerably less energy, so play a part in reducing carbon emissions.

They also need less maintenance and light from LED streetlights can be directed towards the ground, which reduces the glare that can obscure the night sky.

“As well as these significant environmental benefits, they are also very cost effective to run, a factor which we must consider as we continue to provide our residents with quality services despite having to manage reduced budgets,” he said.

“Lamp replacement costs are lower and maintenance visits are usually only needed every six years.

"In a large, mainly rural area such as North Yorkshire this would be a great benefit to residents in outlying, hard-to-reach areas as well as achieving a significant ongoing financial saving.

“We replaced several hundreds of the cast iron lighting columns in Harrogate with modern, elegant steel columns and LEDs in 2015.

"Generally speaking, residents have been very pleased with the quality of lighting provided by the LEDs, whose light can more easily be focused down to street level with less glare in the sky and unwanted illumination of upstairs rooms in houses.”

There are already a number of LED street lights operating across the county where the original lights have been replaced due to faults. In most cases, the new lighting will be added to existing street lighting columns.

Cllr Mackenzie said the county council currently maintains 50,400 streetlights, which cost about £2.1m to power and £1.2m to maintain every year. The new LED equipment would cost 40 per cent less to run.

He added: “With energy prices forecast to increase, the new lights would pay for themselves in under 10 years. As energy prices rise, this payback time decreases proportionately.

"In addition, the LED lights would require less maintenance, significantly reduce light pollution and come with a 20-year warranty.’’

The executive will discuss approval for funding the replacement of an initial 7,000 lamps in 2017-18, with the capital for the rest of the programme then being sought via the annual budget report in 2018.