Shropshire street lights switch-off bid
Saturday 24th September 2011, 11:30AM BST.
Two thirds of street lights could be switched off across Shropshire next year under controversial plans to save cash and meet tough targets, it was revealed today.
The move, which is being piloted from next month, could potentially save Shropshire Council £162,500 a year.
Under the proposals, about 12,500 of the authority’s 18,500 street lights would be switched off daily between about midnight and 5.30am. The scheme is being proposed in a bid to save money and meet tough carbon footprint reduction targets.
But to make the ‘part-night switching’ scheme cost effective it has to run for four years starting next April.
Council papers reveal fitting street lights with automatic light-sensitive switches is likely to cost £412,500.
Senior figures at the council today insisted the scheme would also help the authority reduce its exposure to a carbon tax, which is being considered by central government.
Council chiefs also vowed risk assessments would be carried out to ensure roundabouts, T-junctions, areas covered by CCTV and town centres would not be plunged into darkness unnecessarily.
The authority’s cabinet will meet on Wednesday when it will be asked to approve a risk assessment to see whether to turn lights off completely or to dim them between midnight and 5.30am.
Councillor Simon Jones, cabinet member for transport, said: “We are looking at the sorts of roads nobody really uses between midnight and about 5.30am.
“We are committed to a carbon reduction target and this will help us achieve that and also save money.”
A report to the council’s ruling cabinet says town and parish councils could even ‘piggy back’ on Shropshire Council’s scheme by shutting off some of the lights they are responsible for too.
A pilot scheme is due to get under way in three towns, with Church Stretton starting on October 1.
Cleobury Mortimer has also been singled out as a pilot area, but in Ellesmere the pilot scheme is facing hold-ups. Shropshire Council estimates because of rising energy costs, the electricity bill for its 18,500 street lights this year will be £830,000, compared to £750,000 last year.
By Tom Johannsen
UK News
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FABULOUS idea i have never seen the need for lights to be on after midnight especially in villages, buy a torch.
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Great idea for places that are vehicle only, not so great for pedestrians, I have heard of somewhere else trialling this that’s in a residental area and they’re having some real problems with vandalism and thefts from cars.
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have often wondered if switching the light off helps or hinders theft and vandalism. If its dark out then vandals and thieves will need torches which would make them more visible if you see them prowling around a car or house….
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Where? I have also heard people talk of this place that is experiencing problems after switching off street lights, but nobody seems to be able to give it a name. Very odd.
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This proposal sounds eminently sensible. I agree with Mr Finch, there are many locations were having such lights on after midnight is utterly pointless. However, as usual, it is a potential saving of £162,500 per annum.
Before that estimated saving can be achieved, the cash strapped unitary authority has to spend £412,500.
We’ve heard all this kind of cash saving nonsense before; such projects always involve spending yet more money before any alleged savings can be made – be it by central government or local authorities, whatever their status.
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A pay back of nearly four years if the figures are correct does not make sense. Usually our council is not very good at finance estimation, note Darwins concrete mess.
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“Could potentially save Shropshire Council £162,500 a year”. Lots of spare cash for more I-pads then.
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its coing to cost £412.500 to do this. simple solution.. turn off ever other light,its only a case of taking out a light bulb. that would cut the cost by half to £81.250.
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Removing every other light would create dark spots in some areas leaving pedestrians more vulnerable. Dimming gear means that everywhere is still lit that needs to be.
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Not a very good idea in built up areas, No lighting, No police because of government cut backs, Criminals will have field day.
Just get rid of one or two top council executives, money saved
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whats the point they spent the money on a lump of concrete in town centre for 1 million and then they say we turn street lights off to save money lol. they having a laught wasting our money
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NO LIGHTS, NO POLICE, CRIMINALS WILL REJOYCE
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Can they also save money by switching off the traffic lights on roundabouts at anything but peak times?????
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Great idea, was only talking about this today, why it needs to cost so much I don’t know, hope at the same time they fit more efficient bulbs.
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Great idea. I just hope the council doesn’t have to create a new job post as a “Light pollution Control officer” or some other nifty title with a nice big salary which would wipe out any savings!!
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Telford & Wrekin Council have been doing this on their main roads for just over a year now… However, T&W council have not extended this past main ‘A’ roads throughout Telford …. It appears Shropshire Council are going beyond what telford are doing, i wonder if Telford & Wrekin council have any similar plans for the borough?
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It’s about time this council suggested something sensible !!!
Does this mean we get a reduction in council tax???
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Joanna, you really must think about the ”carbon footprint” just like your caring Council.
So lets have a firework display in Ironbridge instead and sod the carbon footprint!!!
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Regarding the proposed turning off of street lights, l read the article and chucked to my self , the amount of lights that are on for 24 hrs a day in the telford area is obsence. the lighting array at the top of halesfield (by link 51) was on day and night for two years the lights that were upgraded on the eatern primary with radio sensors were on day and nightfor weeks then on during the day and off at night. I have in the past reported the faults to the appropriate council dept. and nothing has been done then tried my local councillor who informed me that the charge for electricity is the same wether the lights are on 24hrs or timed or controlled , so what is the true cost to the rate payer and the carbon foot print we here so much about
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Good idea. Be nice if they turned the ones of on the EP in Telford, especially during the day!!!
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Dear Grim Reaper.
I recently paid (up front) over £200 to have my roof space insulated to modern standards. The expectation is that I will be able to save money on energy by not paying so much to heat a space I cannot use.
I realise that cynicism about council spending is now built in to every announcement they make, but to use your logic, I should have kept my £200 in the bank and continued to shell out month by month for gas and electricity instead?
Or are you saying that while an individual is capable of making decent decisions, a Council isn’t?
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The ROI is approx 2.5 years so that’s a good return albeit the crime rate might increase!
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One good place to start would be all the lighting around the Shirehall itself
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good idea switching lights off,but why switch them on in the first place.maybe this would persuade cyclists to fit lights and bells on their bikes.it would not take too many accidents to realise its better to have than have not.also close pubs and take aways at 10 pm,like before,streets were deserted by midnight
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I remember growing up as a child, the lights used to come on around dusk and they would go off around midnight. I dont think back then in the 70′s they had sophisticated timer devices. My only concern would be the safety of people having a night out and walking home. Theres some strange people out there. But it is an extremely good idea, maybe able to see the night sky in all its glory.
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fine by me
traffic lights next please ?
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I agree ‘A’ turn those stupid traffic lights off at night on Meole Brace and Dobbies/A5 Island
For a couple of glorious weeks the Lights were off at Meole Brace and traffic moved through the roundabout like a dream
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The perceived result is an increase in crime. This perception is not based on much in the way of hard evidence, but rather on people’s own natural insecurities about the darkness. Most councils who have already piloted reducing street lighting have actually seen reductions in the crime rate.
We should wait for the results of the pilots schemes and then look at the facts, rather than guessing what may or may not happen.
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Where is the increase in crime when street lights are off??? we have none its a myth.Lets face it its a brave burglar who breaks in to your house these days , thank you to the conservatives and ken clerk.
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I remember the street lights in Shrewsbury going out at midnight when I was a child.
I also remember being told (several times!)the story of my dad falling down drunk at the exact point the lights went out in the street he was walking on.
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Nice idea, but it won’t save money or carbon!
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finally a radical but sensitive, innovative and worthwhile efficiency saving by the council, this will saves jobs and services,
try some traffic lights next, they use energy too and are often pointless at night
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Criminals will love it. Hows this for an idea, knock all the lights out, but if you do find someone breaking into your car,house,shed etc, you have the right as a tax paying citizen to beat seven barrels out of the scumbag with no repurcussions. Saving money on lighting and helping the police with their job.
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Two thirds of lights switched off.Assume this means the whole of the County with the exception of Ludlow and Oswestry will be kept in the dark ,which appears to be about right for Barrow and associates.
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Your assumption is wrong. All council owned lights are covered by the proposals (see cabinet papers link below). There are no towns excluded if the lights are owned by Shropshire council.
http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/committee.nsf/0/919AE64DB424546180257910003BC15E?opendocument
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Thank you for the illuminating response to my tongue in cheek comments.However the Cabinet papers refer to each area rather than every area which indicates a non uniform approach could occur.However look forward to viewing the web site referred to in para 12 of Appendix C which will indicate all streetlights and the manner in which they have been adapted.The report also allows for exceptions and how these are specifically identified may well it seems, vary dependent on local political pressure as to importance of lighting specific areas.
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can I have a refund in council tax payment then please?
bin collections are down to two a month, now we have no street lighting etc etc etc – simply what is the point!?
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Could they be motion activated? Then if no people or cars were moving about they wouldn’t be on?
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