COUNCIL contractors sparked outcry when they ripped out Victorian style lamps from a historic street in Stretford – and within hours returned to put them back again.

The quintessential northern English street Trafford Grove is popular with film makers, featuring in 2009 movie ‘Looking for Eric’ and recently used as a location for the upcoming Morrisey biopic ‘Steven’.

It is believed to be one of the oldest streets in the area - Sir Humphrey de Trafford built the Grove to provide homes for the workmen building St Ann's Church in the early 1860s.  

And residents must abide by certain rules to ensure the part-pedestrianised street retains its ‘historical value’.

The street lighting is in keeping with the Grove’s quaint quality, with old gas-style lamps - indeed parish newsletters refer to a 'lamplighter' lighting similar lamps with his pole every night before dusk.

But residents were horrified to wake up to workmen replacing the lamps with ‘UFO-style’ LED lights this morning, Thursday August 8.

John Lowry, who has lived on the street since 1986, said: “The first we knew about it was when they turned up at 7.45am, the council didn’t tell us anything. The new lights made the street lose its authenticity.

“I don’t know why they didn’t just put the new LED bulb in and use the same lamp.”

Private contractor Amey, who work with Trafford Council under the One Trafford partnership, have installed 7,500 new energy efficient LED street lights across the borough.

John contacted Amey immediately to challenge the decision to remove all of the period lamps but was not hopeful of swift action. Three weeks ago, he contacted Amey to ask why LED lights had been sporadically installed on Chester Road but is yet to get an answer.

However, after contacting Trafford Council directly, John was surprised to see workmen back on the street at around 3pm, returning the lamp posts to their original state.

A spokesperson for Trafford Council said: "The council is part way through a programme to install LED lights across Trafford, which will significantly reduce energy usage.

"The council has reviewed the programme for Trafford Grove. Although Trafford Grove is not a conservation area it is covered by an Article 4 Direction.

"This direction removes some permitted development rights, but doesn’t affect the street lights.

"In view of residents’ concerns, and as it is not possible to replace the current lights within the same lamp cover, the One Trafford Partnership  will retain the existing lamps.”