Derby's Street Lighting PFI Contract

Kedleston Road, Allestree - Part Four

The use of 8 m columns and 90 Watt SOX lanterns continued for the rest of Kedleston Road. The following photographs were taken on Sunday, 10th October 2010.

A remotely-geared Philips MA 90 was next; this probably replaced a Thorn Alpha 1 in the early 1990s. Given the abundance of ivy around this column's base, removing it must have proved difficult!

The MA 90's canopy looked rather weathered, and a small crack was visible in the bowl. This lantern was switched via a two-part photocell; the detector cannot be seen here, but it was fitted to the canopy.

Another column supporting an MA 90 followed.

This was followed by another two columns.

The Iridium lantern seen on the right of the above picture is seen again below; notice the central position of the lampholder.

This column hadn't quite reverted to nature as drastically as the example pictured above had!

The weathered canopy remained, however.

Two new columns straddled the Askerfield Avenue junction:

The two grub screws that secure the lantern to the column are visible here:

Immediately after the junction, a column fitted with an integrally-geared MA 90 was spotted.

The difference in length between this lantern and the remotely-geared versions is obvious. The weathering on this lantern's canopy looks particularly bad.

The next new column was fitted with an outreach bracket, in order to move the lantern away from the tree in the background.

This Alpha 1 was very much in the 'autumn' of its years..!

Some fantastic autumnal shades were captured in the background of this photograph - it'll not be long before the Iridium 'springs' into life, either!

The next Alpha 1 was another installation to be positioned opposite the houses.

The Opticell looked to be in good condition:

Another integrally-geared MA 90 followed; this was fitted to a CU Phosco tubular steel column.

Given the apparent lack of weathering to much of this lantern's canopy, it was probably only about ten years old when removed.

The next column was particularly rusty; although, curiously, the bracket remained largely rust-free.

The lack of a visible photocell suggests that this installation was group-switched from elsewhere.

This new column saw a return to spigot-mounted lanterns; there being no overhanging tree branches at this location to hinder the lantern's performance.

The bracket style changed for the next outgoing column - this column perhaps was an early replacement along the road. An Alpha 1 was probably once fitted; however, this installation ended its days with another MA 90 attached.

A slight clearing in the tree branches allowed the lantern to be seen in all its glory.

The shape of the bracket is clearer from this angle:

The angled bracket levels off for the final 100mm or so; allowing almost horizontal operation of the lantern.

The final new column installed for this scheme was positioned alongside the outgoing column. The scheme had to end here, as from here onwards, Kedleston Road is no longer within Derby - it then becomes part of the Amber Valley Borough, with lighting maintenance undertaken by the County Council.

A small amount of detritus littered this Alpha 1's Opticell, but it was otherwise in good condition.

Another Alpha 1 provided illumination over the Church Road junction. As mentioned above, this installation is not in Derby, and will therefore not be replaced under the PFI. It is included here because...well, an Alpha 1 is still an Alpha 1! It is likely that this is how the above MA 90 column would have looked when new.

The lantern appears to be fitted with a Sirebeck S300 cell. The revised position of the lantern's grub screws suggests that this Alpha 1 may be newer than the examples seen throughout the rest of this gallery.

Video

PART ONE | PART TWO | PART THREE

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A MONETARY DONATION