Bell Tower supports the ‘Love your Lamp post’ campaign

Did you know that our area has more than 20 old cast iron lighting columns? Most of these are the original fluted pattern that dates from Victorian times and carried gas lamps, and these columns were all manufactured in Reading, many of them by two foundries close to our area – Samuel Griffith in Vastern Road and H C Goodman by Caversham Bridge where the Peter Brett Associates building is today.

With the advent of LED street lighting the council is considering scrapping all these columns, and Bell Tower residents are taking part in a town-wide campaign to save them, as they can be converted to take LED lanterns. The good news is that the council have agreed to undertake a structural survey of all the remaining cast iron columns to determine which ones can be saved and we should hear more in January – but so far there are still no guarantees that any of these will be kept.

Look out for decorations on these old columns during the festive season that have been put up as part of the ‘Love your Lamp post’ campaign. To find out more about this town-wide campaign and how you can show your support please visit bell-tower.org.uk/lampposts. Don’t forget to leave a message of support!