Our service

Responsibilities for streetlighting

Cambridgeshire County Council, as the Highway Authority, is responsible for most streetlights (around 52,000) across Cambridgeshire, including illuminated signs and bollards.  

We, as a permitted lighting authority, have responsibility for a small number of lights (around 1800), which are generally located in residential areas within 84 villages within South Cambridgeshire. These street lights are maintained in partnership with Parish Councils, where we have responsibility for maintaining the lights, whilst Parish Councils pay for electricity. In some instances Parish Councils will also have their own street lights.

Our service standards

As part of maintaining our lights and ensuring they are safe, South Cambridgeshire undertakes structural testing at required intervals and electrically tests all its lights every 6 years.

When a report of a faulty light is received by our contractor you should expect them to respond within the following timescales, depending on the nature of the fault. Our contractor will always ensure the light is safe when they attend and try to fix the fault there and then, although further works may be required.

Our streetlighting policy

You can find a copy of our streetlighting policy here.