Ref. 29507-48PINEHURST residents who campaigned for 15 years for a streetlight outside their community centre have finally got what they wanted.

Former Swindon mayor Arthur Archer first raised his concerns with Wiltshire County Council in 1989, which was then in charge of streetlights in Swindon.

There were already lights in Beech Avenue, on the wall of Pinehurst People's Centre and nearby Pinehurst Junior and Infant Schools.

But the 200-metre path that linked them was dark in the evenings and residents felt something should be done to make elderly visitors feel safer.

The old Thamesdown District Council was renamed Swindon Council in 1997 and became a unitary authority, and took over responsibility for the streetlights and other county council tasks.

While the names changed Mr Archer's campaign continued and letters were still sent in.

Fifteen years and twenty-five letters later 78-year-old Mr Archer was able to claim victory as he switched on the light for the first time, watched by a group of residents.

"It was a wonderful feeling to know we have achieved something at last, but it took a very long time to get that far," said Mr Archer, who retired as councillor for Gorse Hill and Pinehurst last May and now lives in Rodbourne Cheney.

"The council always moves very slowly and in this case it moved even slower," he added. "It never considered the light to be a priority whereas I did and a lot of elderly people did too.

"It will make it much easier for people coming in and out of the centre."

The cost of the £2,000 streetlight was split between the Pinehurst People's Centre, Olive Branch members' club, and Swindon Council.

Eleanor Baughn, 49, the secretary of the Pinehurst Community Association, said: "We always hoped we would get the light and we never gave up.''

Andy Tate