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Let Skanska know if you take a dim view of their street lighting

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With the nights closing in, the council’s lighting contractors Skanska are seeking the feedback of residents. Maybe the people paying for the street lamps can cast some light on why it all seems to be taking so long.

Men Not at Work: double signs and random holes in the road. How is Skanska doing?

Skanska probably think – hope – that no one will bother.

But Croydon locals should take the opportunity to let them know exactly what we think of their handiwork so far.

Residents who have had to put up with overbright street lights being mis-positioned, in some cases even blocking pavements, random holes in the road left inexplicably for days at end before the work is made good, frequent outages of lighting, perfectly serviceable roads signs being doubled up and eventually replaced… And all for millions of pounds of public money, being delivered long after it was scheduled.

And that’s before any considers the thinking behind digging up seemingly perfectly serviceable, Victorian-style lamp posts that suited the 19th century streetscape, to be replaced by something inspired by the invaders from War of the Worlds.

Croydon Council has a 25-year, £79 million joint contract with neighbouring Lewisham council and Skanska. It’s just that no one imagined that Skanska might take what seems like 25 years to undertake the work.

So some bright spark at the contractors has decided to take a bit of a gamble to ask what residents think of their work. Either that, or they are betting that no one will bother contacting them.

“We are replacing the street lights in your area and would like your feedback on how you think we’re doing?” they ask in leaflets going through the doors of some neighbourhoods. The sentence’s redundant question mark may be intended symbolically of Skanska’s work. Or probably not.

Inside Croydon would encourage its loyal reader to disabuse Skanska of its reliance on residents’ inertia, and to take part in the survey, here.

After all, it’s our money which is ultimately paying for the “survey”, so that Skanska can report back to their clients, the council, our council, about what a terrific job they have been doing.

You can also call 0800 028 5986 and a member of staff will input your answers for you. Less than half of the “survey” is about street lighting, with the majority (optional) of the questions concerning equalities policy.

You can use that same phone number to contact Skanska directly, or email them at clstreetlighting@skanska.co.uk

And don’t worry: “Your feedback will be treated in confidence”, Skanska say.


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