Westminster Council has decided to drop plans to replace almost 200 historic gas street lamps following a campaign from trade union GMB.
The campaign to save the gas lamps was started earlier this year, after Westminster Council announced proposals to ditch the 300 gas lamps across the city and replace them with LED bulbs. Before the campaign got off the ground, the council had already replaced 30 gas lamps with LEDs, although planned to convert a further 275.
Despite the council noting that gas lamps were becoming increasingly difficult to maintain, was putting safety at risk, and was more harmful to the environment than LED alternatives, heritage groups and the GMB union mounted a campaign opposing the council’s plans.
Andy Prendergast, GMB National Secretary, noted, “Every year thousands of tourists flock to see them and it would be a tragedy if they were replaced in the name of modernisation.”
At the time the campaign was launched, Westminster Council continued to insist that it would be moving forward with the modernisation program. In fact, upon launching a full consultation, the council noted that it would be mostly looking at what the LED lamps would look like, rather than whether the gas lamps would in fact be replaced.
Despite the confidence from the Labour-run council, GMB union and heritage groups have won out in their battle. That’s because the council has now pledged to keep 138 Grade II listed gas lamps, while 36 non-listed gas lamps will also remain.
However, the council is set to proceed with the replacement of 94 non-listed gas lamps, which will be upgraded to LEDs.
Prendergast continued, “Well done to Westminster Council for saving these historic gas lamps.
“By reversing their decision, Westminster has preserved an important part of London history, as well as a popular tourist attraction.”