Shropshire lights switch-off protests growing

A number of campaigns have been started, with people affected saying they fear an increase in crime and less safety on the roads.

Shropshire Council's programme to save energy has seen street lights converted to part-time night lighting, with lights switched off between midnight and 5.30am.

But with residents fearing the darkness may leave them exposed to crime, the move hasn't been welcomed by all.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today advised councils introducing the measure to take special care when deciding to turn street lights off.

Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at RoSPA, said: "Street lighting improves safety for drivers, riders and pedestrians.

"Driving at night is more dangerous, and pedestrians and vulnerable road users in particular face a higher risk in the dark. As well as it being harder for drivers to see people walking in the dark, there's also more potential for walkers to trip and fall over kerb edges, uneven paving and unseen obstacles on the path.

"Councils should do a careful risk assessment before deciding to switch off or dim street lights, and only reduce lighting if they are sure that it will not lead to an increase in accidents or put personal safety at risk. Accident rates should be monitored to ensure that sacrificing the quality of lighting does not unduly increase the risk, and if there is evidence that accidents are happening because of the lower light levels, then the decision to switch off the lights should be reconsidered.

"It is also important that councils do all they can to warn drivers, riders and walkers that streets lights are being switched off or dimmed and to give advice about what they should do to protect themselves."

About 12,500 street lights of the 18,900 maintained by Shropshire Council are in the process of being converted – just over 66 per cent of the council's lights.

And while council leaders and have said there is no evidence of increased crime many have said the cuts are leaving people vulnerable.

One north Shropshire resident, who did not want to be named or provide his village name, said he felt exposed as a result.

He said: "I don't want people to know who I am because they will know that where I live is in darkness. But there are people walking home at night and the lights sometimes go off as early as 10.30pm.

"You can't see your hand in front of your face. It's ridiculous."

Lights in Shrewsbury have been affected, as well as in Whitchurch, Market Drayton, Ellesmere and Wem.

The south of the county has been the last to see the final stages of the work, including villages such as Albrighton, Alveley, Bridgnorth, Broseley, Chelmarsh, Claverley, Cosford, Highley, Morville, Much Wenlock, Quatford, Shifnal and Stottesdon.

Lights controlled by town councils have stayed on, despite pressure to cut costs.

According to Shropshire Council, it takes 7.7 million kilowatt-hours of power and 3,490 tonnes of carbon to run the council's 18,900 street lights, illuminated signs and traffic signals every year – power used by 2,600 homes in a typical year.

But the conversion is set to reduce the energy use by 20 per cent, 1.56 million kilowatt-hours of power and almost 812 tonnes of carbon.

Angry residents believe safety should take priority over costing, and petitions have been launched by action groups who are fighting to get the lights back on.

Sian Rushton and Mike Smith, of Market Drayton, have said they hope there can be a situation where every other light is switched on to provide some illumination.

Mr Smith said: "Many people have to walk to work in totally unlit streets. This causes concerns over health and safety with trips, falls and the increased possibility of personal attacks to both people and property.

"We realise cuts have to be made, but ask Shropshire Council to reconsider their methodology in carrying out this work. Surely extinguishing every other street lamp would be a far better option allowing all streets to be lit but at a lower level?"

The petition now has about 100 signatures.

Councillor Tim Beckett, mayor of Market Drayton, said: "The issue is Shropshire Council said they had a consultation but this consultation wasn't with any member of the Market Drayton public or a town councillor so that is what has resulted in the reaction of the people as no one knew it was happening until we saw the posters going up, which was how I found out."

Shropshire Councillor Claire Wild, cabinet member for highways, said:

"A partnership group, made up of council officers and the police, regularly monitor crime levels to see if there is any evidence that safety is being affected by street lights being off at night.

"On the whole, reaction from the public has been positive because they can appreciate that in most cases it's simply a waste of energy to have street lights on all through the night."

And PC Mick Sturland, of the Safer Neighbourhood Team, said he has not seen an increase in crime since the street light switch over.