PLANS for new street lights have caused a furore in East Finchley.

Residents in the council-maintained county roads off High Road are outraged brighter lights are going to be put up just metres from their front windows and feel there has been a lack of consultation.

They are angry that plans sent round by contractors for Barnet Council did not make it clear lampposts were going to be moved back from the edge of the pavement to boundary walls, as well as be placed in front of entrances.

A campaign group named Homes Against Lamppost Obstruction (HALO) has been formed, and hundreds of residents have signed a petition in protest.

Chris Hampson, an architect who lives in one of the affected roads, Huntingdon Road, has been leading the opposition, and said: “We are trying to make sure the contractors listen to the needs and concerns of the residents.

“The plans created quite a storm and we have been sending emails to the appropriate people for the past three months.

“There are a lot of issues that need to be ironed out before work can go ahead to make sure a lot of residents are not left frustrated.”

People living in the affected roads were told last week that amended plans sent out by the contractors had themselves been inaccurate, and they are now assessing the latest information before voicing their individual concerns further.

Council officers admitted they cannot guarantee every single resident will be happy but remained adamant the work needed to be done.

Councillor Andrew Harper, cabinet member for environment and transport said the work was part of a £27 million investment across the borough to renew lights, many of which he said are either approaching the end of their useful life or are not considered bright enough.

He said: “This substantial investment across the borough will ensure life expired and potentially structurally unsound columns are replaced while at the same time improving the standard of the lighting on the borough's roads and footpaths.”

Around 16,750 of the borough's 24,000 lamp posts will or have been replaced during a five-year period from 2006 to 2011, and council bosses said the plans do involve repositioning the posts nearer homes.

They said this is because they are now required to light the footpath as well as the road. It also gives pedestrians more room and there is less risk the posts will be damaged by vehicles, they added.

Mr Harper said: “Experience has shown that most queries raised by residents relate to the proposed positioning of the columns.

“The service provider is required to do its best to accommodate requests from residents and in most cases it has some flexibility to suggest some alternative positions.”

“In situations where property frontages are small it is more likely that residents will be concerned about a column being positioned at the rear of the footpath.

He said the council can consider placing the posts at the kerb in some situations, and it can also fit a shield to stop the light shining into houses.

The council said consultations are on going with residents. Work on the erection of the posts and subsequent connection to the electricity grid will begin when all views have been addressed.