Lighting a public footpath to improve safety, while making sure it is dark enough to house its rather unusual residents was the challenge faced by Pembrokeshire County Council recently.

To mark the final phase of the Wiseman Bridge refurbishment, the council has piloted solar powered lighting bollards to illuminate the tunnel during daylight hours to tackle the incidence of vandalism in and around the passageway and enhance and improve security on the public footpath and cycle track.

The normal inhabitants of the tunnel, dating back to the early 1900s, however, have made this project rather unique.

A number of bats currently occupy the tunnel and now that the project is complete, are set to share their home with local residents and tourists. This has meant that the lighting needs to be at a continuously low level so as not to disturb their natural habitat, while still being bright enough to provide a safe route between Saundersfoot and Wiseman Bridge.

The stand-alone bollards, designed and installed by South Wales-based SolarGen Solutions Ltd, fulfilled this brief as well as providing a cost effective and sustainable lighting solution for the council. Furthermore, the solar power lighting expert was successfully granted a ‘bat licence’ from the Welsh Assembly to install the lights.

Mel Stephens, street lighting engineer for Pembrokeshire County Council, said: “The use of solar power was by far the best and most practical solution for the council to address the issues of safety for the public and the bats. The nearest electricity supply is more than half a mile away and external cabling would have proved very expensive and disruptive.

“The use of solar power also fits well with our green approach to Pembrokeshire and I believe that using solar power is a definite step in the right direction for us.”

The stand-alone bollards are powered by solar panels located on the frame above the tunnel, which store enough electrical charge in batteries during daylight hours to power the bollards, therefore requiring no external cabling or electrical supply.