Eastbourne group bids to save Terminus Road heritage lamps

A row has broken out over East Sussex County Council's decision to remove 13 "barley sugar" cast iron lamps from Terminus Road in Eastbourne as part of ongoing town centre improvement works.

The lamps, installed in the 1980s but styled after Victorian originals, stand between Bankers Corner and Bolton Road.

Cllr David Small, an Eastbourne Borough Councillor, said: "There is cross-party support for keeping these lights.

"No one is arguing against well-lit streets, but if the lights are too dim, surely a better and cheaper solution is obvious: just fit brighter, modern fittings to the posts we already have."

The lamps were installed in the 1980s (Image: Supplied)

Campaigners argue that replacing the lamps entirely with modern streetlights "makes no sense", and that the existing cast iron columns could be upgraded to meet current standards.

Mr Small said: "It feels incredibly wasteful to throw away well-made ironwork for generic replacements that, frankly, are unlikely to last as well.

"At the very least, proper alternatives should be costed before these lights are lost."

Bob Cookson, a retired electrical engineer and adviser to the Eastbourne Society, also questioned the logic behind the replacement.

Mr Cookson said: "There is no technical reason why these columns cannot be fitted with modern fittings that meet current standards.

"Iron of this quality lasts for centuries. It is disappointing that this option does not appear to have been properly investigated."

The lamps were designed to reflect Eastbourne's heritage (Image: Supplied)

The lampposts were installed to reflect Eastbourne’s heritage and echo the Victorian design found in Devonshire Park.

Their removal has prompted a public response, with "Save Our Lampposts" signs appearing on the columns.

Support for the campaign has come from councillors, the Eastbourne Chamber of Commerce, and the Eastbourne Society.

Signs have appeared on the lampposts (Image: Supplied)

Council leader Stephen Holt, though opposed to the lampposts being removed, suggested that if they must go, they could be donated to the Eastbourne Society.

In response, East Sussex County Council has defended the decision.

A spokesperson for the council said: "As part of the ongoing improvements in Eastbourne town centre, the barley sugar lamp posts along Terminus Road are scheduled to be replaced with new streetlights to improve public safety, ensure compliance with modern requirements, and support continued development and accessibility of the town centre."