Street lights to stay switched off

By Thursday 11 July 2013 Updated: 11/07 10:53

Street lights in Warwickshire will not be going back on full-time. (s)

STREET lights are to remain switched off in the early morning hours despite a call to reverse the controversial decision.

Many of the county's roads are plunged into darkness between midnight and 5.30am, Sunday to Thursday, and between 1am and 6.30am on Friday and Saturday.

It is part of efforts to save £500,000 annually and Warwickshire County Council's plans to save £60 million over four years.

But the council's Labour group this week called for all lights across the county to be switched back on safety grounds.

The bid was rejected by the ruling Conservatives and Liberal Democrat councillors although they have pledged to review it to see if it has had a proven negative effect on life.

Labour leader June Tandy said: "This is about people who have to get out at night. Shift workers for instance, youngsters at night clubs, the emergency services and elderly people who are vulnerable because it's so dark. It's about public safety. "

Coun John Whitehouse, communities lead scrutiny member for the Lib Dem group, said: “We’ve been totally consistent on this policy of part night street lighting right from the beginning – we support it in principle, as an important contribution to achieving financial savings, and to help reduce energy consumption.

"However, we’ve called for an early evidence-based review by the county council of how it has worked out in practice, and what problems if any it has caused. The review should take evidence from the police and other emergency services.

"If the personal safety of Warwickshire residents has been adversely affected, then clearly that would be an issue – but currently there is no evidence to confirm this."

Tory transport and planning spokesman Peter Butlin said a review had already been agreed for September and any decision on the current street light policy was irrelevant until more evidence had been acquired.

Part night lighting was phased in across the county between December 2012 and April this year and incorporates around 80 per cent of the county's lights.

An 18-year-old Warwick University student was killed less than a week after the initial introduction last December, after being hit by a taxi on the Kenilworth Road in Leamington.

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