Cash-strapped Councils are implementing dimming regimes to their street lighting to save money, raising concerns in communities about safety during night-time. While cost-saving from energy saving measures can be important, it’s crucial to strike a balance between economic considerations and public safety.
Here are some notable instances:
Havering London Borough Council: Faced with a significant budget deficit, has chosen to dim approximately 4,000 lights on its main roads between midnight and 5 a.m. However, safety groups have expressed concerns that reduced lighting could potentially make women more vulnerable to predatory behavior by emboldened individuals.
Croydon London Borough Council: To save up to £1 million annually, Croydon is planning to introduce a new street lighting policy. This policy would involve a 50% reduction in lighting levels for residential streets and main traffic routes.
Cornwall: As part of a cost-cutting exercise, Cornwall intends to switch off around 35,000 lights, which constitutes more than half of its supply.
Leicestershire County Council: Launching an 18-month pilot scheme where streetlights will be dimmed to 30% intensity between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. This initiative aims to reduce energy costs, carbon emissions, and light pollution.
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