NORTH Ayrshire Council’s innovative and cost-saving approach to lighting up North Ayrshire has reached a major milestone.

And Councillor Jim Montgomerie, Cabinet Member for Place, gave a helping hand as the 10,000th LED light was put in place in West Kilbride.

The Lunar – Lighting Up North Ayrshire Responsibly – project started two years ago and has seen the new energy-busting lights go up across the region.

They’ve already proved successful and the latest set of lights – including the 10,000th – were put up last week in Halfway Street in West Kilbride.

When complete later this year, around 12,950 street lights across the region will have had existing lamps replaced with low energy equivalents in a bid to reduce emissions and save money.

The project has been highlighted as an excellent example of an ‘invest to save’ scheme.

It has already reduced the annual Energy Budget from £869,400 before the project to £572,000 and the revenue maintenance budget from £555,000 to £371,000 at the end of year two.

By year eight of the programme around £750,000 in combined efficiency savings are expected to be made every year from the initiative.

Before the initiative on the mainland, pilot projects in both Arran and Cumbrae were huge successes.

It saw the entire lighting stock on both islands replaced by new units which use less energy and generate less CO2.

Councillor Jim Montgomerie, Cabinet Member for Place, said: “We are a very forward-thinking council and reducing our carbon footprint and adopting cost-effective green policies is high on our agenda.

“Our Lunar Project is an outstanding example of that and we are confident the scheme will have a really positive impact on our carbon footprint.

“It is also a fine example of investing now to make savings in the future.

“We’re delighted with the progress the team have made and it’s great to be here in West Kilbride celebrating our 10,000th LED light.”

The majority of the main roads across North Ayrshire have now been completed.

The council revealed that the focus over the final few months will be on smaller, residential areas across North Ayrshire.