16/10/2007 - New light set to shine on Haverigg

Haverigg schoolchildren who thought the entrance to their village could be brightened up to make a better first impression on visitors, will see their idea spark into life on Friday (19 October).

Earlier this year, pupils asked county councillors for help them replace a tired grey lamppost in the middle of a traffic island known locally as Big Lamp with a new stylish Victorian streetlight.

Now, thanks to Neighbourhood Forum grants and £1,500 from the county council's Local Committee for Copeland, the new lamp is ready for its official switch-on.

Photographers are invited to the site of the new streetlight opposite the Harbour Hotel on Main Street where pupils and county councillors will be flicking the switch at 2:30pm. Former Haverigg pupils who were involved in the project before moving on to Millom secondary school in September, will also be there.

The finished scheme, which pupils helped to design, includes three new three decorative lanterns and the word 'welcome' spelled out in decorative bricks on the traffic island where the lamp sits.

As part of their contribution to the scheme, the county council's highways partners Capita and Amey carried out some work on the project free of charge.

Speaking ahead of Friday's official switch-on Ronnie Calvin, Chairman of the Local Committee for Copeland said: "The committee was bowled over by the enthusiasm of pupils when they came to talk about their plans to improve the entrance to Haverigg.

"They are a credit to their community and I am delighted that the county council was able to help them turn their bright idea into a reality."

ENDS

Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228-606337