SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Like many parts of Leeds, the streetlights are being replaced where I live.We had a pamphlet shortly before work started, advising that the new lights gave better light so there would not be as many of them as before.Now many are up and running I have to say that they do give better light - where it is focused - but they do seem to be leaving other areas in shadow.Perhaps this is simply due to the improved "whiter" light that is cast downwards, making the shadows appear darker? What I have noticed is that many of the new lights have two or three notable areas where the light is focused down, with the spread of light into other areas appearing not to be so good - or is that just me?And despite previous comments about not needing as many lamposts, the lights around here seem to be replaced like for like - the new lights are being installed virtually on top of the old lights that are being removed meaning some areas are, if anything, overlit. But for all that there are now one or two very dark spots where no light at all seems to be cast (again, a consequence of the more focused light?).Has anyone else noticed this?

They've been done in my neck of the woods a few months now Ravey, personally i MUCH prefer them.The orange Sodium glow of the old lights was really depresssing compared to the new White light, i find everything about them better. It will be great when the whole Orange glow over Leeds has been eradicated.I did this little piece about the old and new lights herehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/379834 ... 2505/There isn't a great deal to say, but i did try record it before it was all change     

Over the past two years or so my local council, Camden, have been replacing lamp posts because of [they claim] stress fractures. The older style had quite an ornate base – about four feet high– and an ornate top and lamp with a plain pole in-between. Apparently the weight of the top swaying around in the wind causes a stress fracture just above the base leaving the pole liable to snap off. While this is a viable reason and may or may not be true, they [Camden] have left the stumps of the old lamp posts beside their replacements. As a good bit of forward planning, all the new posts come complete with an all-weather electrical socket for things like Christmas lights, an inbuilt broadband phone line for CCTV cameras and mounting points for banners.On a more obvious note, many of the new posts also seem not to have had the paving around them replaced either at all or at least very badly. I hope LCC make a better job of it than Camden have.

All the streetlights in my part of Otley have been replaced for a while now, and I also think they're better than the old ones. They are replaced like-for-like generally speaking, except for the one in our back street. It used to be at the end, casting my back yard into shadow, but now is dead opposite, saving me the expense of buying a security light!

there doing as we speak near me some have been done awhile but they have missed a street out for some reason. and why are they taking too long for whingate to do those temporary traffic lights are a nightmare!!!

That's the gas people not the street lights. It's annoying.The lights on Armley Town street are black and in a retro/victorian style. They look quite smart.

There used to be 4 sodium lights in the communal car park near menow there are 3 white lights and to be honest more shadows than ever (a car thiefs pradise)The lights on the footpaths have all been moved and there are less, and now it's a burglars paradise.

Well, funnily enough I took the dog out for a walk this evening and there have been some definate changes.The spread of light from the new lamps is noticeably better, to the extent that in certain areas where it was near pitch darkness last week are now adequately lit. I wonder if there is some sort of adjustment to the reflectors in the light head itself? Or maybe they've just turned them up to 11? Whatever they've done, things are much improved and the new lights now seem worth the effort.

The new lights are fine, until they replace the much shorter one that was on the opposite side of the road, with a million candle power new one right outside your house at bedroom window height!!!! gonna have to get some black-out curtains!!!can you still get them???

The letter we got about replacement said that they can fit some sort of deflector if it's affecting bedrooms etc. I've no no idea how effective it is, but it might save you the hassle.