ROSPA tells us -
Street lighting also improves safety for drivers, riders, and pedestrians. ...
Pedestrians and vulnerable road users suffer from decreased visibility in the dark too. For these reason, ways of reducing the risk to all road users during the hours of darkness must be found.Â
Dorset Council tell us -
The street lighting service now meets the minimum British Standard – improving road safety during the hours of darkness and reducing crime and the fear of crime, while enhancing the environment and quality of life for residents and visitors.
An ideal world, where the Carriageway (road) and Footway (pavement) are clear of vegetation and the surfaces illuminatedÂ
The Highways Act 1980 gives the specifications that the Public Highway must be kept clear to at all times.
What that means is that the vegetation must be cut back far enough on to the owner's land - that the growth of new vegetation before the next scheduled cut will not encroach on to the Public Highway
Here, we can see that the hedge is topped to 6 ft for privacy. It stops any vegetation from being able to hang down over the footway or carriageway.
Viewed from above, we can see that the light from the two lamp posts will not be affected by the hedge.
The full light is able to illuminate the surface of the road and pavement.
And as viewed from above.
In Dorset, there are numerous locations where the Highway Inspectors think that it is just the actual surface of the Highway that has to be kept clear of vegetation.
In this image, we can see that the pavement is restricted towards the top, and bramble is hanging down. The higher vegetation is also interfering with commercial vehicles.
From above, we can see that the heads of the street lights are lost within the vegetation.
The light shining down is greatly reduced by branches, and by leaves when on the tree.
From above, we see how the illumination spread is affected.Â
A single lamp post, with a maintained hedge.
The light is not affected by the hedge.Â
A single light with an overgrown hedge around it. Following a complaint, the Council has been out and cut the branches directly in front of the light, at the public's expense.
From above, we can see how the illumination of the public highway is affected.
Dorset Council tells us -
It is the responsibility of an owner or occupier of private land or property to ensure that frontage hedges, or other vegetation, do not overhang or protrude onto the highway or footpath and restrict passage of pedestrians or vehicles.
Hedges should be cut back to the boundary, or vertically above the rear of a footpath to a height of 2.2m.
Dorset Council's pamphlet was produced some years ago at my request. But they have failed to ensure that staff of all levels comprehend it
It clearly shows the minimum heights that the public highway should be clear to at all times.
The other side gives clear information.
The leaflet tells us -
The cutting back of highway hedges and trees is the responsibility of the landowner or occupier on whose land the hedges and trees are growing.
It is the responsibility of all landowners or occupiers to ensure that their hedges and trees do not interfere with the safe use of public footways and roadways or obscure street lights and road signs.
Under an FOI to Dorset Council, they claim that staff are guided by policy POLSL900Rev June 2020, and British Standard BS5489.
I am advised that -
It does not cover the specially trees and hedges adjacent to lighting as no two scenarios are the same. Columns in general should not be cited adjacent to trees unless a strict pruning regime is in operation so that the light is not obstructed by summer foliage.
It can be seen here that whilst the path surface is mostly clear of vegetation, the actual overgrown hedge leans across the public highway. The hedge belongs to Sovereign Housing. The council used to get Sovereign to maintain the hedge, which was always topped to 4 feet. But the Highway Inspector got promoted, and the new one refuses to ask Sovereign to maintain their hedge.
The same hedge with summer growth.
The hedge at night.
And the actual path.
The same path from the other end.
And showing how much the hedge leans across the path, and how tall it has been allowed to grow - because the Highway Inspector refuses to contact the owner.
The red line shows the actual edge of the Public Highway.
And the view at night.
A longer view.
The second half of the hedge along this path is privately owned, and the owner tops the hedge to stop any issues.
A night time view of the middle lamppost, showing just how much the hedge is overgrown - because the light is illuminating the top of the hedge instead of the pavement.
Putton Lane, and you can see the bottom of the lamp post on the pavement. This hedge is owned by Chickerell Town Council, who were asked last year to improve their maintenance standards - because Highways refuses to ask them to cut their vegetation back.
The yellow line shows the line of the lamp post.
Yet another dead tree on Chickerell Town Council land, where the tree has an overgrown, unmanaged hedge around it.
Stood directly next to the lamp post, and seeing all the shadows.
And further up, showing the next lamp post along.
The Chickerell Town Council hedge, from the other side.
And the view at night, with dark areas due to Chickerell not maintaining the hedges.
The lamp post next to the BT boxes.
This collection of large trees are on Dorset Council's own verge.
The lamp post is marked with the yellow line, the green BT boxes being to the right.
At night, the trees cause the light to cast numerous dark shadows.
The same lamppost from a different angle, to show just how far the branches have grown.
You can see that the branches of the Dorset Council trees are also obstructing the carriageway.
And the same area at night.
And when virtually under the light, we see lots of shadows and dark areas - because the branches have been allowed to grow.
Putton Lane, at Willowbed field.
Despite requests, and visits by a Dorset Council Tree Officer last year - Chickerell Town Council have repeatedly refused to address the trees and hedges to comply with the Highways Act.
The Willowbed Hall bus shelter, with a thick layer of branches and leaves above the bus shelter.
The Willowbed Hall bus shelter, with a thick layer of branches and leaves above the bus shelter.
This location has a number of the extra bright LED lights (that other people have complained as being too bright).
Lots of dark shadows.
Taken at the bus stop, you can't see the lamp head due to the branches.
Shadows everywhere, and branches overhanging the carriageway.
With one of the extra bright lights behind and to the right, you can see just how much is overhanging the public highway.
I'm at a loss as to why planners ask for large tree species to be planted so close to the public highway.
The red line shows the edge of the carriageway, with all of that obstructing the public highway.
The only reason that the pavement is clear, is because last year Dorset Council sent a couple of guys out to Chickerell for a few weeks, who half heartedly cut the ends off some branches due to lack of training - and the Highway Inspector's refusal to write to Chickerell Town Council.
This hedge belongs to Chickerell Academy. This is yet another location where the Highway Inspector sent their Countryside Rangers at the public's expense instead of asking the school to maintain their vegetation.
A red line to show where the top of the lamp is.
The same view at night, with the path being in darkness.
The overhang is due to Chickerell Academy not maintaining their hedge to 6 feet high.
The view at night, isn't a welcoming one. And this is by the communities official recreation and play field.
The same path viewed from the north.
There's a funny little dog leg, and then the path continues on to the school gate.
Not a welcoming scene to walk along during the winter afternoons.
Another lamppost next to a tree.
The tree has gone unchecked, and has no doubt grown from a self setting seed in an uncut verge.
The yellow line shows the amount of vegetation obstructing the public highway.
Due to the complete lack of training, Dorset Council's own management think that commercial vehicles should keep the roads clear of vegetation - and are unable to comprehend the damage caused to vehicles by thick branched over the carriageway.
