Blundering council workers have left conservation area residents gobsmacked after mistakenly removing the road’s Victorian street lamps.

The swan-necked, green lamps were removed on Monday and Tuesday to the astonishment of homeowners in Vine Road, East Molesey.

Surrey County Council is currently undergoing an energy-saving street lamp replacement programme, but conservation areas should not be touched without consultation.

Vine Road resident Rosie Allen said: “They’ve ceased work, but it’s too late. It has destroyed the road. I think it’s a scandal.

“They were really beautiful, rare, swan-necked, lights and the road was proud of its heritage, but now it looks like a municipal car park. Everyone is up in arms.

“We can’t even trim a tree without permission, and yet they have come in and virtually removed our lampposts overnight.”

The street light programme, which aims to upgrade all of the county’s 89,000 lights in five years, has already generated huge controversy in other parts of the borough.

In Long Ditton, people were so outraged by the plans that they clubbed together to raise £8,550 to put swan necks on the modern columns that were due for installation.

They have almost reached their fundraising target.

Councillor Ernest Mallet said the mistake in East Molesey was another example of “continuing chaos” at the council.

He said he had been assured by Surrey that the borough council and residents in conservation areas would be consulted about replacement lamps before work started.

He said: “I can’t understand how this has happened, given the promises that have been made.

“It’s a very simple matter and if officers and contractors can’t sort this out with the borough, then what can they sort out?

”It’s just leaving me open-mouthed and gobsmacked to tell you the truth.”

Surrey’s contracts and mobilisation manager Paul Smith visited the road on Tuesday, September 20, to meet angry residents.

He reportedly apologised for the error, and said the council had told contractors not to touch the conservation areas.

He also guaranteed the new, modern lampposts would be replaced with a more suitable alternative following discussion with the conservation department at Elmbridge Council.