Victorian-style lamp posts could brighten the Bridge
VICTORIAN-STYLE lamp posts may be installed at the Bridge this year.
Parishes foot the bill for street lighting, including purchasing the actual lights, while Guernsey Electricity completes the installation work.
GE and the Vale constables discussed replacing the concrete posts a year ago, because several of the steel reinforcements within them are corroding.
UK lighting experts visited the Bridge to advise on illuminating the main crossing and improving the lighting generally.
Bridge Christmas lights organiser Martin Search, who has worked on the Bridge for 45 years, has plenty of ideas for improvement.
‘At the moment the concrete isn’t very nice,’ said Mr Search.
‘The poor Bridge has been left alone for too many years. We want to bring a bit more character back into it. It has been a lifelong ambition of mine to leave it in a better way than I started. I have so many ideas, it could be amazing.’
If completed this year, lights can be strung from the upgraded lamp posts for the festive season which
would save on scaffolding costs.
Instead, those costs would expand the light display.
Floral displays in the warmer months could be accommodated by the proposed style too.
Donations were raised quietly to invest £11,000 into the Bridge’s 2020 display, which met very positive feedback from shoppers and local businesses.
On the Vale parish website, a GE spokesperson said: ‘Guernsey Electricity have been working closely with the parish to best plan and design a cohesive lighting scheme at the Bridge to help minimise the amount of structures and poles and improve the area. The designs, which are being progressed, aim to replace the older, concrete street lighting, add additional lighting whilst supporting the parish’s Christmas lighting displays.
‘When designs are finalised, costings and estimated timescales will be able to be determined.’
