The 174 gas lamps include 138 Grade II listed gas lamps and 36 non-listed gas lamps in prominent positions across the city, and will continue to light the streets of Westminster in the current structure.
In a change to its proposals, the council will now convert 94 non-listed gas lamps to LED. These 94 non-listed gas lamps will be fitted with the most recent LED lighting developed by specialist manufacturers which both replicates the soft 'honey' lighting glow, as well as including replica mantles, piping and clocks. In addition, the designs of the three replacement lantern styles will be enhanced to reflect more of the detail of the original lanterns, following consultation with Historic England and other heritage bodies.
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The council also heard from Westminster residents and residents' groups who urged the council to replace the gas lamps with LED lights as part of its wider commitments on climate action. The council's revised proposals demonstrate how changes to the built environment can contribute to decarbonisation.
Concerns remain around growing delays experienced in repairing the gas pipes which service these lamps. This leaves some streets in darkness for extended periods and poses a genuine safety risk for residents and visitors. The council will work with suppliers and partners such as Cadent Gas to resolve this issue. However the council may need to electrify other gas lamps where we face lengthy delays to repairs or it becomes too costly or unsafe not to.
Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Cabinet Member for City Management and Air Quality at Westminster City Council said: "We thank everyone who has commented and contributed to the debate on this very serious and impassioned matter. We have listened closely to the heritage bodies, gas lamp enthusiasts and residents who have given their views and now propose to change our proposals to reflect the concerns expressed. Public safety has always been our prime consideration, but we also acknowledge the strong heritage issues at stake.
"We hope that by keeping the 174 gas lights shining across Westminster, we can both keep our streets safe and preserve our precious heritage. Converting the 94 unlisted gas lamps to LED will make a positive contribution to reaching the council's zero carbon target by 2030."
