Shropshire Star

Star comment: Darkened streets not all gloom

It must be a tough business running Shropshire councils these days.

Published

In Britain's crisis of 1940 Churchill had nothing to offer but blood, sweat, and tears. In the councils' crisis of 2013 their leaders have little choice but to cut things.

They cut things. They can do little to cheer people up. And, in the case of Shropshire Council, they are literally turning off the lights.

The street lights switch-off is expected to save £170,000, a relatively modest sum. Designated street lights are being turned off between midnight and 5.30am.

Residents in some areas of Shrewsbury have called on councillors to turn the lights back on "to deter crime and make residents feel safer".

Councillors could well respond: If you do not want us to save money by turning off the lights, where do you want to see savings instead?

Turning off street lights in the hours after midnight directly affects very few people. If it was proven that crime had surged dramatically since the scheme began, there would be a case for revisiting the decision. But, according to the police, exactly the opposite has happened, and crime has fallen.

Not all of Shropshire Council's street lights are being switched off. A third have been deemed crucial and remain illuminated.

The misery being inflicted by turning off the lights is mild compared to the upset and inconvenience caused by some of the council's other money-saving measures.

Cost-conscious householders turn off the lights before they go to bed as leaving them on is a waste of money. Why should the same principle not apply to cost-conscious councils?

An incidental benefit is the reduction in light pollution.

Meanwhile, on the national scene there is concern about a looming power supply crisis, with a slim margin between peak demand and available supply. In the worst case, we could be looking at power cuts. All the more reason then not to waste power.

Critics may think Shropshire has been plunged into the dark ages now, but unless we get serious about saving there could be worse around the corner.

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