Old Town streetlights to brighten

By Justin Faulconer

Published: August 6, 2008

Brighter nights are ahead for Old Town Madison Heights.

Amherst County officials have agreed to change the aging bulbs in roughly 100 streetlights in the area near U.S. 29.

“The bulbs we have no longer meet federal standards,” County Administrator Rodney Taylor told the Amherst County Board of Supervisors in July. “They are not nearly as bright as when they were originally installed.”

The county is negotiating with Appalachian Power Company about when to change the lights, which would be as bright as those on the Carter Glass Bridge leading to the county from Lynchburg.

A community action group in Old Town Madison Heights lobbied for new lights. The group also has asked county officials for a neighborhood curfew and tighter noise restrictions.

Dennis Evans, president of the action group, said anything that is done to discourage drugs and gang activities is positive.

“This is our neighborhood,” Evans said, “and we want to keep it that way.”