Church Stretton street lights will be switched off in pilot project

Street lights will be turned off at night in parts of Church Stretton from October 1, in the first such pilot scheme in the county it was revealed today.

Shropshire Council and Church Stretton Town Council hope the scheme at the Battlefield Estate and its four approach roads will save both cash and carbon.

If successful, it will clear the way for further schemes to be rolled out across the majority of Shropshire Council's 18,500 street lights.

The Church Stretton project, which will see lights switched off between midnight and 5.30am, has the backing of the town council and police. Town centre lights will be unaffected.

Councillor Mike Walker of Church Stretton Town Council said: "I can assure residents that we have thought very carefully about every single light and whether it needs to be on in the middle of the night or not. In areas where elderly or vulnerable people live we are being cautious and keeping the lights on at road junctions."

Ellesmere Town Council last week objected to a pilot of the scheme there amid concerns about crime and safety. Superintendent Pete Lightwood, chairman of the Safer Stronger Communities Partnership, said that in other parts of the country where similar schemes run, there is no evidence crime has risen as a result.

Shropshire Council cabinet member Simon Jones said: "This is a great opportunity for us all to do our bit for the environment, and help the council save money at the same time."