Residents living in Viking Road have been living in the dark - quite literally after a new lamppost has remained unconnected to a power supply. Acomb councillor Tracey Simpson-Laing today requested that contractor NEDL confirm when the lamp post is to have power connected after she was again contacted by residents concerned over how dark their part of the street has become since the original lamp post was damaged.

She said:

"I was contacted by residents in July concerning a damaged lamp post, of the old concrete design, on Viking Road. Residents have complained in the past about the level of illumination from a number of the lights and are now even more concerned that their part of the street is in the dark. A resident told me she had reported the damage in early July and asked that I chase up when the lamp was to be replaced.
"Since then, although a new light has been installed, it is not working and residents have had concerns over the stump of the old lamp post which was not correctly sealed and poses a safety concern".

Coun. Simpson-Laing has been told by council officers the proposed date for connection is in October. But that there is uncertainty over whether this will now take place as contractor NEDL has had workers on strike, and are working to rule as well as being subject to an overtime ban.

"I am asking for an NEDL representative to give residents some reassurance that they will not be left in the dark for much longer. There are families and elderly residents on the street who are very worried about not having the street lit properly. I don't think its much to ask if NEDL have a real interest in the standard of work they carry out".