Plan to turn out the lights

Street lights across Shropshire could be switched off under radical plans to save money and combat climate change, it was revealed today.

Dimmer switches could be fitted to some street lights while others could be turned off altogether. And the cost-cutting scheme could be piloted in Ellesmere, it has emerged.

Shropshire Council is considering the plan as it battles public spending cuts and bids to deliver a 35 per cent reduction in its carbon footprint over the next five years.

The authority's ruling cabinet has already adopted an official carbon management plan which commits it to reaching the target.

It comes after it emerged in February that 1,350 street lights across Telford could be switched off to shave £76,000 a year from Telford & Wrekin Council's £1 million lighting budget. In Powys councillors have decided to turn off more than half of its 14,000 lights in a bid to save £225,000.

Details of Shropshire Council's fresh plans em-erged at a meeting of Ellesmere Town Council last night.

Councillor Ann Hartley, Shropshire Council cabinet member, said the idea was being mooted but was at "a very early stage".

Ellesmere is one of the locations being considered to pilot cuts.

"We are being mooted as pilots for a scheme for cutting down on street lighting. It wouldn't go off completely but the council is looking at fitting dimmer switches on street lights therefore allowing them to be turned down or switching off every other one in a group," she said.

She said police and emergency services would have to be consulted on the idea if it takes off. And she said that by introducing measures to slash carbon emissions council coffers would be boosted in the long-term if the ambitious target is met."

Philip Edwards, for Shropshire Council, said Ellesmere Town Council had been approached to see whether it would consider taking part in a pilot scheme.

He said: "Due to the national imperative to reduce energy usage, to safeguard supplies, people are asking us what measures we are taking to reduce energy and CO2 emissions.

"Many local authorities are approaching this issue by varying lighting levels of street lights outside busy hours when traffic and pedes- trian levels are much lower."