Solar Light Success
Working together Pontesbury and Minsterley Parish Councils have secured funding from Shropshire Council for improvements to the lighting along the pathway between the two villages.
Developed in response to safety concerns raised by residents, the project will involve the installation of 32 lighting columns with PIR activated solar powered lighting.
Although already well used, it is the ambition of both Parish councils to encourage increased use of the path, reducing road journeys between the villages and providing a safer route for pedestrians and cyclists. It is also hoped that parents will feel more confident in their children walking or cycling to and from school, particularly during darker winter months.
As well as improving safety increased use of the pathway will contribute to the carbon reduction ambitions of both councils; Cllr Duncan Fletcher, Chair of the joint working group said “the use of solar lighting is an integral part of achieving a sustainable, cost-effective solution to improving this essential route connecting the villages’.
Cllr Geoff Rogers, Chair of Minsterley Parish Council commented that he was delighted with the outcome after all the hard work undertaken by all those involved in the project.
Following a competitive process, the contract for installation has been awarded to Highline Electrical, work on the project will start during the first week of September and should take two weeks to complete.
Shropshire Councillor Nick Hignett, who is also a member of Minsterley and Pontesbury Parish Councils said, “I am extremely proud of the way Minsterley and Pontesbury parish councils’ have worked together to deliver a project which will benefit residents in both villages.”