STREET lights across Cambridgeshire will shine brighter tonight after the Government gave the go ahead to a 25 year, �100 million project.

Local Government Minister Norman Baker agreed that the county council could go ahead with a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) to install 37,600 new lighting columns over the next five years.

The council will also be able to replace 4,500 illuminated traffic signs and bollards and introduce new technology to detect defective lighting.

Connect Roads Cambridgeshire Limited, the special purpose vehicle established by Balfour Beatty to deliver the Street Lighting PFI project, will now get the green light to go ahead.

Mr Baker said: “Good street lighting is vitally important to in reducing road accidents, crime and the fear of crime”.

“That is why, despite current financial constraints, we have made �100.1m available to Cambridgeshire for this important scheme.

“We will continue to invest in transport infrastructure that improves safety and provides reassurance to local communities.”

“We are committed to providing investment for much-needed improvements to our local public services. With budgets being squeezed I am pleased to see Cambridgeshire finding ways to make this project happen.”