Kingston Council is to receive close to £250,000 to invest in smart street lamps as part of the government’s plan to trial next-generation digital technologies.
The government’s Smart Infrastructure Pilots Programme (SIPP) has awarded the council, along with five other local councils across the UK, a total of £1.3m, with the local authorities expected to invest £2.4m.
The multi-purpose smart street lamps are expected to aid wireless networks, mobile coverage, electric vehicle charging, CCTV cameras, and the monitoring of footfall and air quality.
Councillor Afy Afilaka, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage, and Governance said: “We wholeheartedly embrace the enhancements to the CCTV network, with the hope that it will act as an additional deterrent against criminal and anti-social behaviour, ultimately making Kingston an even safer place for everyone.”
The aim of these pilots is to help local authorities improve public services by finding better ways to connect people and businesses whilst promoting public safety.
| Local councils | Amount (£) |
| Cambridgeshire County Council | 220,000 |
| Tees Valley Combined Authority | 202,500 |
| Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames | 245,700 |
| Westminister City Council | 165,000 |
| Oxfordshire County Council | 250,000 |
| North Ayrshire Council | 242,765 |
Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure Sir John Whittingdale said: “We want to ensure that towns and cities across the UK are right at the forefront of this connectivity revolution, ready to seize the opportunities it will bring for local communities, which is exactly what these pilots are about.
“They will help demonstrate how advanced wireless technology can enable areas to innovate and deliver better public services, from rolling out electric vehicle chargers to boosting business growth and helping keep our streets safe.”
The council has also said that they will be partnering with Boldyn Networks to introduce a new fibre ‘ring network’ across Kingston town centre in 2024 to further improve connectivity for local residents and businesses.
The SIPP pilots are expected to begin in October 2023 and is expected to run until 31 March 2025.
The podcast editor and reporter for Kingston Courier.
