New lamp post victory over bureaucracy

Seldom do I report on the various wins I get when representing residents against bureaucratic standards used by local government operatives to provide a reason why common sense cannot prevail. Bit of a mouthful I know but one of my frustrations is that local authority working is dogged by protocol and bureaucratic nonsense which over rides common sense.Take Baldwin Close and the case of the disappearing lamp post leaving a whole section of the road and footpath in darkness. For thirty years lighted lamp posts graced both sides of the roadway and when the new posts arrived some six months ago no one was surprised to see the old posts replaced in the same position as the old ones. Everyone is happy until one morning a work gang arrived without notice or advice to the residents and removed one of the posts and replacing it with another one but on the other side of the road. This left one side of the road as much in the dark as the residents as to why this had happened. British standards was the reply when the operatives of Southern Electric were questioned by residents.Must not have posts by trees was another reposte and we must adhere to standard practice to maintain illumination of the roadway said another. Our inspector told us to move it otherwise we will not get paid. Despite all the protests the contractors packed up their tools washed their hands of the matter and disappeared into the gloom they had created. So the residents as a last resort reported the incident to Sparky who very deftly passed it on to me. Now after six long weeks of phone calls and arguments I can report that today logic has prevailed and the contractors have been instructed to place a new post where the old post stood resplendent for thirty years. Well done to the residents and an object lesson of common sense over intransigence.