THE replacement of treasured old street lamps in Basingstoke has sparked opposition in some areas.

Hampshire County Council is carrying out a five-year, multi-million pound programme to replace about 75,000 worn out lighting columns and install more efficient lanterns to help reduce energy consumption.

Street lights situated in conservation areas have been given some degree of protection as they will be replaced with retro-style lamps that are “more in keeping with the historic setting”.

But residents living in roads with old lamp-posts – but not in conservation areas – are set to lose out and have begun voicing their anger.

Anita Elmer, of Eastfield Avenue, Eastrop, said she was “horrified” at the proposals and has started gathering signatures for a petition to save the lamp-posts, which she intends to present to the county council.

The 43-year-old told The Gazette: “While I realise that changing the light fittings to a more energy-efficient type is good, I cannot understand why they are intent on removing our original 1930s lamp-posts, simply because we do not live in a conservation area.

“If these are removed it will take away some of the character of the road.”

Eastrop ward borough councillor Stuart Parker agreed. He said: “We have precious little of old Basingstoke left.”

Cllr Parker said a pot of £20,000 had been set aside to install new “heritage-style” lights outside conservation areas.

He said this was not sufficient and would mean choosing between two similar streets in the same area.

County councillor Mel Kendal, executive lead member for environment, said arrangements were in place for the use of special designs “that should strike the right balance between energy efficiency and contributing to the special character of historic and conservation areas”.

He said if councils wanted other areas to have heritage designs, they could remove streets from the contract and pay for them out of their own funds.