Reform-led council under fire for plans to rip up Victorian lampposts
One of the UK’s most complete collections of cast iron lampposts is at risk of being “separated” and replaced by “ordinary and ugly” alternatives, campaigners warn.
Canterbury’s collection includes around 270 historic lampposts, many of which were cast at a foundry in the city, and are at risk of being replaced with generic steel poles fitted with standard “heritage style” trim.
Canterbury, along with the City of Westminster and Edinburgh, is one of the only places that has managed to preserve all of its bespoke nineteenth-century cast-iron street lamps.
Ptolemy Dean, president of the Society of Canterbury and surveyor of Westminster Abbey, is raising awareness for a campaign to protect lampposts.
he said Independent Kent County Council was planning to replace the “very attractive” lampposts with a “standard, off-the-shelf steel pole” you might find on a motorway or industrial estate, and remove the originals for “throwing in the bin”.
“It’s a really corrosive thing visually on the cityscape,” he said. “You walk around the streets of Spain and Italy, in Paris and other places, and you see beautifully paved streets, you see very nice, elegant street lights, and you see beautiful buildings. You should do the same in Canterbury. You should see beautiful things.” […]medieval streets, beautiful buildings and beautiful street lamps. To create a complete picture, when you take something like a street lamp and replace it with something really ordinary, ugly and nondescript, it degrades all the buildings surrounding it.
He said Canterbury, a UNESCO World Heritage site, needed to be “looked after”.
Campaigns against the removal of these historic lampposts have been organized across the country, from Berkshire to Aberdeen.
“This is synonymous with a problem that is at the heart of everything that is going on locally at the moment, which is that no one can maintain anything, no one can, the cutting budget is maintenance and so it is up to you to buy spares as the solution,” Mr Dean added. “It’s really catching up with us now.
“Years of austerity and the Canterbury affair are just the latest in this story.”
Guy Mayhew, campaign coordinator and co-chairman of the Canterbury Association, said: Independent: “These columns are not decorative extras, but part of the everyday historical fabric of the city.
“Our study has shown that their phasing out has not been driven by a clear heritage strategy or evidence of widespread structural failure. Instead, decisions have drifted over the years between Kent County Council, which provides street lighting, and Canterbury City Council, which is responsible for conservation and public realm.
He continued: “Apparently in the absence of an agreed design code or replacement policy, ad hoc and generic solutions became the default. This is not primarily a funding issue. Repainting and refurbishment are relatively low cost and replica or similar solutions had been explored before. The real problem was the lack of coordination, clarity and timely decision making.”
Mr Mayhew said more than 750 Canterbury residents had signed a petition expressing concern about the loss of historic columns.
“Public concern has increased as more historic columns are lost or replaced with standard steel alternatives, so the campaign has gained significant support locally. What we want is simple: a clear and agreed approach that treats historic street furniture as an asset that needs to be properly managed, rather than something to be quietly dropped.”
A spokesman for Kent County Council (KCC) said: “These are proposed works that have not yet started. We are working closely with Canterbury City Council to find a solution and take this work forward. The Canterbury Community has not contacted us to discuss these plans.
“We understand the historic significance of the Biggleston lampposts in Canterbury and the love of local residents for them. However, recent safety inspections have revealed serious structural problems which mean the lampposts can no longer be considered safe.”
“Cast-iron columns failed structural tests performed at the base of the column, confirming internal corrosion and other defects. Painting the columns will only protect the above-ground portion and will not address damage inside or below ground.”
“The original factory that produced these lampposts has closed and the molds used to make them are no longer available.
‘Rebuilding these molds and fabricating new cast iron utility poles or refurbishing existing utility poles would not be the most effective use of limited maintenance budgets, given other high priority needs.’ It is estimated that creating a bespoke mold alone would cost tens of thousands of pounds, with each new cast iron column costing in excess of £5,000.
“In comparison, installing a modern steel lamppost costs around £168, while adding a heritage-style decorative kit brings the total per lamppost to around £810. “These kits are made from durable, non-metallic materials, making future safety checks easier, safer and more affordable.
“Importantly, the existing ornate lanterns will be reused to preserve the character of Canterbury streets. ‘While we appreciate the historic value of the Biggleston lampposts, public safety must come first.
“Our approach ensures Canterbury maintains its heritage appearance while meeting modern safety standards and managing costs responsibly.”
