RESIDENTS angry at being kept in the dark over improvement work to street lights claim the whole process has been an “absolute nonsense”.

Homes in Windermere Avenue, Finchley, were sent letters in April explaining new lampposts were going to be installed along the street within weeks.

They were then sent identical letters in September to say the work was going to be completed again by the middle of October.

Posts were placed next to existing lights, but at the start of the month, the lights went out and the street was in darkness for almost a four weeks.

The failings left people in the area fuming, and many have questioned the logic of carrying out the repairs twice.

Martin Ison, who has lived in the road for 35 years, said: “It has been a huge waste.

“I tried to explain to Barnet Council and the lighting company that they had done the work twice. They found it hard to accept new lampposts had been put in where a new one had been placed four months previously.

“I'm not frustrated by it, I'm saddened that in this day and age they can go wasting this money. As a rate payer, I'm not prepared to pay for it.”

There have also been worries the area would become dangerous for motorists without street lighting as it is often used as a rat run, and Mr Ison said there have been several close shaves with drivers in recent weeks.

David Collins, who has lived in the road for almost 30 years, said: “Over three weeks without street lights is an absolute nonsense. It has been very dangerous not to have the lights.

“I have had to be phoning the council to get any information.”

A statement from Barnet Council said the work in Windermere Avenue was being carried out as part of a widely criticised Street Lighting Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Contract, aimed at to improving lighting around the borough.

A separate issue affecting the underground power supply meant EDF had to repair a fault and chose to restore power to homes and businesses ahead of street lighting.

Mr Collins said: “It does seem very much a coincidence the power went as they were installing the new lights, and I don't believe in coincidences.

“However, there does seem to be light at the end of the tunnel.”

The council said the work is not being duplicated as the original work had not been completed, and the new fittings are due to be fully connected and switched on by the early December at the latest.

The council statement added: “Due to a clerical error our street lighting contractors sent out letters to residents indicating their street lighting would be replaced in April when in fact the work was scheduled to take place in September.

“A second letter was then correctly sent out six months later, ahead of the scheduled works taking place. It is unfortunate that the contractor failed to send a letter to residents informing them that the work would not take place in April.

“The work on Windemere Avenue is being carried out as part of a wider Barnet Council scheme to bring lighting up to national standards and make our roads safer for cars and pedestrians.”