Say NO to Fife Council's latest decision!

You may have seen the recent coverage in the Dunfermline Press or on social media about Fife Council ordering the removal of the projector displaying images onto the Fire Station Creative’s gable wall.

This projector has been used to showcase events at Fire Station Creative, as well as promote charitable organisations that serve our community. Like many others, we were annoyed by this decision. Why now—after years of illuminating a dark part of our town with positive messages—has the council decided to target this projector? We decided to investigate.

The Council’s Justification

John Mitchell, Fife Council’s Head of Roads and Transportation, stated: “Our lighting columns are not designed to take extra weight and so any structures attached to them can cause safety issues.” (Dunfermline Press)

Technically, this is correct. Streetlights aren’t designed to bear extra loads, and attachments can pose safety risks. In some cases, they may even reduce the lifespan of the column.

However, take a look around, and you’ll see that streetlights regularly have attachments, including:

• Road traffic signs
• Hanging baskets
• Seasonal decorations
• Banners
• Radio equipment
• CCTV cameras
• Traffic survey devices
• Public transport information

In fact, Fife Council itself has guidelines in place for mounting signs and reducing street clutter by attaching items to lighting columns. So, while the claim that streetlights aren’t designed for additional weight is technically true, the reality is that attachments are common, and there are well-established processes to assess and mitigate any risks.

Existing Fife Council Guidelines

The council’s own policies encourage attachment to streetlights under certain circumstances, some examples:

St Andrews Design Guidelines (Guideline 48):   
“Reduce road signage clutter: where possible, mount signs on lighting columns...”

Fife Council Transportation Development Guidelines (August 2018):   
“Any warning signs that are required shall be mounted on street lighting columns, rather than on separate posts.”

Why This Projector? Why Now?

This raises an important question: Has Fife Council specifically identified this projector as a hazard? According to council data, there are around 45 known streetlight faults in Dunfermline alone—and that’s just one town. Why has this particular projector become such a priority?

To date, there has been no indication that the council has carried out the necessary due diligence, such as a structural survey or risk assessment, before ordering its removal. The decision appears arbitrary, lacking clear justification, and frankly, a little suspicious.

A Call for Clarity and Fair Policy

Unlike other councils across the UK, Fife Council lacks a clear public policy on attachments to lighting columns—or at least, none that we could find. However, standard procedures exist to assess and manage potential risks. Has the council followed these procedures in this case? We simply don’t know.

If you, like us, believe the projections on the Fire Station wall adds value to Dunfermline, making it a brighter and more vibrant place, please show your support with just a couple of clicks.

Pledge Support

In the meantime, while this issue unfolds, we urge Fife Council to develop a clear public policy on streetlight attachments—one that considers not only safety and lifespan but also the needs of local economies, communities, urban design, and future technologies.