Ford Street residents have raised safety concerns after being left in the dark following the recent undergrounding of their power lines.

Power poles – with lights attached – were removed from the west end of Ford Street, pictured right, last month to underground the power lines, leaving homes on a 700-metre stretch without illumination at night.

On nights without a moon, residents report the footpaths on either side of the street are pitch black. With this being a main route for pedestrians and mobility scooter riders on their way the New World, they fear there could be injuries, especially heading into winter.

Ōpōtiki District Council asset manager Jessica Wiseman said residents had raised safety concerns, which the council was taking seriously.

“We will work with Horizon Networks to both resolve this current situation and make sure we are more closely aligned so this doesn’t impact other residents next time cables are undergrounded,” she said.

She said undergrounding works were the responsibility of Horizon Networks, the local lines company, and power often had council assets attached, such as streetlights and communications equipment or CCTV in some places.

She said the lights in Ford Street were replaced a few years ago through the council’s programme to move to more efficient LED lights.

“That process often means we need to install additional lamp posts because there is less ‘light spill’ from LED lights than the older-style lamps. The exact number is yet to be determined.”