IT SEEMS EASY TO RETROFIT TO LED, BUT THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL

Are the LED floodlight weight and wind loadings suitable for your columns - do you need expensive structural analyses or even new columns?

The columns should be visually inspected for signs of corrosion and fatigue.

Foundation holding down bolts, or column roots, need to be tested.

Ensure you have a valid 5 yearly Electrical Inspection Condition Report (EICR).

Adding “RCBO” protection – required since October 2022 for public lighting upgrade works to protect against electric shock.

NOW, THE SECONDARY, AND OFTEN FORGOTTEN, CONSIDERATION IS PLANNING PERMISSIONS AND BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOUR

The Local Authorities (LA) vary in their approach –is a change to LED simply a maintenance upgrade, a change of a planning condition or is full planning permission required?

Check your existing planning permission – days/ hours, are you increasing light levels or light spill, floodlight visuals etc.

The Environmental Zone defines the “obtrusive light” limits for your neighbours – this restricts light spill levels at windows and more importantly is their view of how bright your floodlights are against a dark sky.

Bats are a legally protected species and need to be considered.

This can limit the floodlight aim direction and tilt angle, and hence often dictates the design in terms of light uniformity on the pitch.

Maybe light guards (cowls) are required to help cut-off the visible light.

Even if your floodlights have been there for years, a resident can complain to the local authority – light is a statutory nuisance – and this can result in an abatement notice to stop or restrict the light. In summary, LED floodlights are the sustainable way forward to save energy and reduce maintenance costs.

Lights4Sport Dark Licht floodlights ensure the £’s you spend on electricity gets the light on your pitch, not on your neighbours! Contact Martin Roche, martinr@ecoclub.uk or visit www.ecoclub.uk

The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 is just around the corner and fans are planning their diaries for how to watch sixty-four matches played across ten venues in two countries. That’s a lot of football, and with the time difference in host nations Australia and New Zealand, some of us might be tuning in for kick-off from our beds!

So what better way to demonstrate support for the Lionesses in their quest for glory than with the officially licensed England FA home textiles collection from awardwinning boutique bedding company Dreamtex? Set those alarms to rise from your slumber under a new England duvet set as Sarina Wiegman’s team try to make history once again following their triumph at the Euros in 2022.

The “Play The Game You Were Born to Play” duvet is a striking and patriotic design that is available in single, double and king size, so there’s no excuse, everyone in the house can put one on their beds! What’s more, the duvet is reversible so you can flip it over to reveal a vibrant repeat pattern featuring the England crest and choose which design you sleep under each night or snooze under during the half time break. Also, new designs are on the way so keep an eye out for more England themed bedding to brighten up your bedroom.

Dreamtex’s genderless range of England home décor merchandise is for all fans of England’s teams, whether you follow the men or women’s teams or both, and you can add to your bedroom makeover with England cushions and cosy fleece blankets. Young fans will be excited to decorate their room in time for the start of England’s World Cup campaign on July 20th and, if you’re looking for gift inspiration for a football lover’s birthday, then an England shirt shaped cushion will be a great addition for a living room or office. For any early risers out there heading to the gym before work, or youngsters setting off for their next training session, then you can also take the England Three Lions towel with you to show you’re behind the Lionesses every step of the way this summer. As holiday season is almost upon us too, you could even pack one for your sunbed by the pool. dreamtexltd.com

Dreamtex is proud to have launched a patriotic range of official England FA homewares for football fans across the country and is looking forward to cheering on the Lionesses this summer as football fever grips the nation once more.

The England FA range is available from retailers such as Asda, Argos and Very, just search online to find out more.

You can also visit the Dreamtex website for more information and to see a taster of the other licensed homewares on offer. From popular children’s TV and anime characters to the world of gaming, there really is something for everyone.