Teen beauty spot drinkers are ramblers, not rebels
- Dave Burrows
Shropshire streetlights face being turned off in early hours
Saturday 4th February 2012, 10:59AM GMT.
The controversial switching off of thousands of streetlights across Shropshire between midnight and dawn could be completed sooner than planned, it was revealed today.
Shropshire Council has set out plans to switch off 70 per cent of its 18,500 street lights over the next four years in order to save £115,000 per year in operating costs.
The process will begin in April and, if it proves a success after 12 months, it could be accelerated and rolled out across Shropshire within two years, the council has said.
Councillor Simon Jones, whose cabinet responsibilities includes street lighting, said it had yet to be decided which lights would be switched off first.
It will cost £254,000, to fit the lights with equipment to make them go off at midnight and come back on again at about 5.30am.
Town and parish councils with responsibility for street lighting are being encouraged to join in, with Shropshire Council offering to carry out risk assessments.
In October a trial scheme began in Church Stretton. Town council-owned lights on the Battlefield estate have been switched off, as have those controlled by Shropshire Council on roads approaching the town from the north, south and east.
Town mayor Bob Welch said there had been a drop in crime.
Bishop’s Castle could join the project after the town council asked Shropshire officers to give them more details.
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Gastly new lights stuck right next to my house in Bishops Castle, not working yet and I hope they never do. I prefer the dark and being able to see the stars. I suppose thieves find it easier to see with lights.
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a very sensible decision
who is up at 3am!? they wont be missed so its a good cut
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This is very good news indeed. I know it’s all about saving money to the Council, but it will have a positive effect in other areas.
Astronomy tourism is really growing in parts of the UK and this is an opportunity for people to publicise Shropshire as a 24 hour tourist attraction especially as we are so near Birmingham and related conurbations – our beautiful hills (south shropshire) and the beauty of a starlit sky.
Remember people, a torch is a handy thing to have and if you want to go hands free, an LED head torch is very useful.
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The streetlight outside my bedroom window in bayston hill always used to switch off at 11pm. Seems a v sensible decision, I prefer not to see money pointlessly wasted.
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i think this is a brilliant idea, save the council x amount, and not only that improves the situation for drivers, not only by being able to see pedestrians in your wn car headlights, but also those who forget to turn headlights on as they can already see due to street lights
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Will we be getting a reduction in our council tax then?. This is a stupid idea just pampering to the save the environment brigade. So more burglaries. people been attacked and property been vandalised! no doubt all our insurances will be going up as well in due course.
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Got any evidence of increased crime for this based on other areas of the country!?
So far the stats. seem to be suggesting the opposite.
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I suppose it wont encourage crime one little bit . Hee Hee !!! We will learn
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Lets hope the footpaths are safe to walk on even with the use of a torch to see.
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