Street lights in Calderdale could soon get a £1m upgrade.

Plans have been unveiled to replace old street lighting with new, energy-efficient columns.

It is part of an ‘invest to save’ scheme that will see £500,000 come from Calderdale Council’s highway maintenance funding pot and £500,000 from the pooled capital resources.

The council says: “Improved street lighting will promote a greater feeling of security. It will also enhance the areas where it is provided.

“The proposed ‘invest to save’ strategy will enable a larger number of life expired and energy-inefficient street lighting columns to be replaced using a combination of a more cost-effective sleeving method for columns up to 8m in height and prudential borrowing funded from resultant energy savings.

“There is a wider benefit to the council from a reduced carbon footprint and reduced environmental tax.

“It is estimated that the amount of prudential borrowing which could be supported through the energy savings from a £1m programme of works is around £331,000.”

The council admits its street lighting stock is becoming “life expired” with 12,200 concrete lighting columns older than 30 years and 2,100 steel columns more than 20 years old.

Calderdale says they have a 35-year and 25-year use span, so need to consider replacements soon.

The council faces an annual £1.4m street lighting bill, which they say is at risk of rising by £70,000 every year as energy costs rise.

Now the council is proposing to use LED lanterns which will cut the annual lighting bill and help reduce it’s carbon footprint.

The report says the council is considering a ‘sleeving’ method which will see the existing columns cut down to just above the electrical connection. A replacement steel column, with an energy-saving fitting, will be added which saves around £300 on the cost of a full new column.

Calderdale Cabinet will consider the project on Monday at 6pm at Halifax Town Hall. If backed it will need the approval of full council.