The Liberal Democrats have demanded that failing county council contractor Ringway get a grip on the number of non-working street lights within six weeks – or be sacked.

Lib Dem Leader Stephen Giles-Medhurst, who proposed the motion critical of the county’s street lighting performance, said: ‘The levels of failure are now so high that members are spending more and more time dealing with lighting problems, having to apologise on behalf of the county council. It should not be like this.

‘Nor should we have to propose a full council motion to get action.

‘If Ringway have not fixed the problem within six weeks, the county council should be looking for a new provider.’

St Albans Lib Dem councillor Chris White was one of a number of councillors who highlighted key problems in his division: ‘A series of lights in Drover’s Way, central St Albans, have been out since December 2013 and I have just been given excuses or false reports.’

Sandy Walkington added: ‘There are numerous lights out on King Harry Lane in St Albans – one of the most heavily trafficked roads in the county. The contract says that Ringway has to keep 98% of lights working – but this is a county average, allowing Ringway to get away with poor performance.’

The motion was agreed unanimously.