Thomas Bridge 22 December 2014

Streetlight switch-off prompts safety fears as England ‘plunged into darkness’

Three quarters of councils have turned off or dimmed streetlights to save money, prompting fears from Labour that community safety could be being jeopardised.

A local authority poll suggests 558,000 street lights are being switched off overnight - an eightfold increase on May 2010 – while 797,000 are being dimmed.

The survey found 50 of the 141 responding English councils were switching off some streetlights, with 56 rolling out dimming, 42 enacting both and 35 doing neither.

Surrey County Council reported that it was dimming 99% of its lights, while Essex said it had turned off 83%.

Labour’s shadow communities secretary, Hilary Benn, warned that ‘significant areas’ of the country were being ‘plunged into darkness as a result of David Cameron and Eric Pickles’ policies’.

‘Streetlights ensure that people are safe on our roads and feel safe walking home, especially at this time of the year when the nights have drawn in,’ Benn added.

He instead urged Conservative ministers ‘to to tell their shire councils to get their act together and do what forward-thinking authorities are already doing by investing in new technologies like LED lights to save money on electricity bills and keep residents safe.’

Communities secretary Eric Pickles told Conservatives in Essex that he ‘loves’ street lights being turned off because ‘it’s saving a phenomenal amount of money’, ‘it’s nice to see the night sky’ and it helps him get ‘a good night’s sleep’.

Motoring group The AA this month warned councils that accident rates in areas with turned off streetlights had improved less than in well-lit areas.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Business Support Officer - Finance

Royal Borough of Greenwich
£31,524 - £32,931
Street Services is seeking a Business Support Officer (Finance) to join its busy Business Support Team. Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Business Support Officer - Budgetary Control

Royal Borough of Greenwich
£31,524 - £32,931
Street Services is seeking a Business Support Officer (Budgetary Control) to join its busy Business Support Team. Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Assistant Business & Transformation Manager

Royal Borough of Greenwich
£44,331 to £47,532
This role offers a unique opportunity to manage critical business functions while driving digital transformation across a vital public service. Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

GDA Apprentice - Trades

Royal Borough of Greenwich
£27,345 - £27,345
GDA Apprentice Various Trades - work, earn and learn Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Bilingual Education Officer Dari/Pashto

Durham County Council
Grade 7 £29,093 - £32,654 (pro rata to hours worked)
Bilingual Education Officer – 18.5 hours per week, term time only, temporary until 31st March 2026. We wish to appoint a part-time, Bilingual Educati Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner

Partner Content

Circular highways is a necessity not an aspiration – and it’s within our grasp

Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.

Support from Effective Energy Group for Local Authorities to Deliver £430m Sustainable Warmth Funded Energy Efficiency Projects

Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.

Pay.UK – the next step in Bacs’ evolution

Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.