PEDESTRIANS and motorists in Somerset are at risk from street lights which are in urgent need of repair. More than 13,000 lamp posts are too old and need to be replaced, according to a Somerset County Council report. The report states that problems are oc

PEDESTRIANS and motorists in Somerset are at risk from street lights which are in urgent need of repair.More than 13,000 lamp posts are too old and need to be replaced, according to a Somerset County Council report.The report states that problems are occurring with the existing lighting which is 'severely deteriorating' and 'causing concern'.It will cost the council around £14m to replace the ailing lights over the next year.A spokesman for Somerset County Council said: "Street lighting is an issue that the council's highways department takes very seriously."There are 47,000 street lights in Somerset and over the past 18 months the number of lights over 25 years old has been reduced from 34.8 per cent to 28 per cent. "Last year 1,715 units were replaced. This replacement work will continue within budgetary constraints, targeting the units where replacement is considered most urgent."Any new lighting put up also has to meet light pollution requirements.Low pressure sodium and high pressure mercury lamps are being phased out due to environmental concerns because they use up too much energy. The use of white light sources such as ceramic discharge and compact fluorescent lamps, which are more energy efficient and cheaper, will be investigated through trials across the county.