Cost of Lighting Replacement at Police Centre Raises Eyebrows
The replacement of the lighting system at Dyfed-Powys Police's strategic centre in Llangunnor, near Carmarthen, is projected to exceed £500,000. This figure was described as "strikingly large" during a recent meeting.
The existing lighting system, installed 15 years ago, has been deemed outdated by architects, with parts no longer available, making maintenance difficult. The centre itself originally cost £6.4 million to build.
Details of the New Lighting System
The new contract involves installing LED lighting equipped with heat-mapping technology, allowing the lights to be dimmed to conserve energy. The project also includes replacing external lighting fixtures.
The contract was awarded to a construction firm at a cost of £555,576, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The report explained that this figure was determined based on financial cost evaluation, contract terms, the route to market, and the need for timely delivery amid escalating material costs.
Reactions from Officials
Keith Evans, vice chairman of the panel, expressed concern over the expense, stating:
"I was a bit disturbed by the cost."
Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn, who approved the project, assured that all procedures were followed within governance frameworks. He explained that he and his chief financial officer review proposed expenditures above a certain threshold. Responding to Evans' concern, Llywelyn acknowledged a degree of "rubber stamping" in some cases and noted the modernization came "at a significant cost."
"Everything was done within governance frameworks," he said.
Panel Chairman's Perspective
Professor Ian Roffe, chairman of the Dyfed-Powys police and crime panel, remarked on the situation, highlighting the value of the building itself before the lighting costs were revealed:
"The strategic command centre was, in my view, the best value public building ever built in Wales - until I saw the lighting replacement cost. I thought it was strikingly large."
