Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire's streets are set to benefit from £145.8m in Private Finance Initiative Investment, Transport Minister Rosie Winterton (pictured) announced today.

The funding will allow Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire County Councils to secure private sector partners in a joint project to upgrade 98,000 streetlights over the next 25 years and the installation of almost 14,000 new lighting columns.


"Experience shows that better streetlighting helps improve road safety, as well as reducing crime and the fear of crime," Rosie Winterton said.

"It also helps create happier and healthier local communities by promoting social inclusion and more sustainable patterns of transport by encouraging people to cycle and walk."

East Midlands Regional Minister Phil Hope, also commented: "Better streetlighting makes a real difference to people's lives and this investment of more than £145m will bring significant benefits to both Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire."

The next stage in the process is for the councils to discuss with potential partners how the work will be undertaken. When this is complete, work could start in late 2009/early 2010.

(JM/KMcA)