Campaign to save Victorian-style lamp-posts

A campaign has been launched to save 13 lamp-posts from being replaced with modern street lights in Eastbourne, East Sussex.

East Sussex County Council is planning to replace the barley sugar street lights, which are cast iron columns based on Victorian originals, as part of ongoing town centre works.

The change would improve public safety, ensure compliance with modern requirements and support the development and accessibility of the area, the council said.

However, the Eastbourne Chamber of Commerce, Eastbourne Society and some Eastbourne Borough Council representatives argued installing brighter bulbs could avoid their removal.

The lamps are located in Terminus Road, between Bankers Corner and Bolton Road.

A campaign has prompted a public response, with "Save Our Lamp-Posts" signs appearing on every column, the camapign group said.

Conservative Eastbourne Borough Council representative David Small said there was "cross-party support" for keeping these lights.

"It feels incredibly wasteful to throw away well-made ironwork for generic replacements that, frankly, are unlikely to last as well," he said.

"At the very least, proper alternatives should be costed before these lights are lost."

Bob Cookson, a retired electrical engineer and adviser to Eastbourne Society, said there was "no technical reason" why the columns could not be fitted with modern fittings that met current standards.

"Iron of this quality lasts for centuries," he added.

An East Sussex County Council spokesperson said the lights were scheduled to be replaced with new street lights.

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