The new LED streetlights are expected to save the council £17 million over a period of 25 years.

 

Up to 60,000 streetlights are in the care of the council. Councilor Vernon Smith (C, Tewkesbury East), cabinet member for highways and flood estimates the LED streetlights will reduce maintenance costs by 70 percent, while cutting carbon emissions by 60 percent.

 

Thousands of LEDs have been installed in the country through a pilot program.

 

The county is currently searching for contractors to implement the street light replacement and maintenance project amounting to £32 million over a maximum period of 12 years.

 

The county council hopes to award the contract to a winning bidder by April 2015. The contract period will initially amount to six years, and the county council has the option to extend the contract for another six years.