Ref. 29748-39Eldene residents have been left in the dark over the removal of two lampposts from outside their house.

Lorraine Rayner, 46, of Stubsmead, noticed the lampposts had disappeared at the end of last week all that was left in their place were gaping holes in the pavement before the Council covered them over.

Lorraine, a stores operative at the Royal Mail, in Dorcan, said her husband Tony has written to Swindon Council asking why they have been taken down just a year after they were first installed.

Lorraine, a mother-of-two, said: "It just seems a bit strange that they went to the trouble of putting them up last year and now they have come down again.

"There's quite a dark walkway in the street but that is only really lit from the light from houses nearby. I don't even know if they ever got these lampposts working.

"I leave the house at 5.45am so in the winter it is dark. I'd feel a lot safer if the streets were well-lit as you don't really know who may be about. It needs to be brighter."

Tony, 47, said: "It seems like a real waste of money. They have obviously sent people out to do all the wiring and now they have just been taken down.

"I get sick and tired of seeing meaningless pavements being dug up, roadworks being put it and speed bumps being laid down.

"The money that's being spent could surely be out to better use. I have written to the council to find out what's going on. I would just like an explanation."

Hellen Barnes, spokeswoman for Swindon Council, said: "The council is now completing phase two of a programme of works to improve the lighting in the area of Stubsmead, Collinsmead, Bowleymead and Islandsmead as the area has been identified as a poorly-lit estate.

"Some of the lampposts are being removed and replaced with upgraded lighting columns.

"The new lighting scheme was initiated by residents who complained about the standard of lighting and the area was noted by members to be poorly lit.

"The old existing lighting is the old low pressure sodium lighting and through this phased initiative we are improving the lighting levels considerably with high pressure sodium lanterns.

"This will create a more pleasant and safer environment for the residents, possibly reducing crime and the fear of crime.

"The council has received Mr Rayner's inquiry and we will be contacting him in the next few days."

Alex Emery