Fresh calls over Shropshire street lights petition

So far, more than 350 people have signed the petition in the four days since it was launched. But organisers said despite being pleased with the response, they wanted to get more people on board.

The petition was launched by Sian Rushton and Mike Smith of Market Drayton on Thursday.

They are asking Shropshire Council to reverse a policy which has so far seen thousands of street lights switched off between midnight and 5.30am.

They say they would like the lights back on to help deter crime and make people feel safer in their homes and want the council to extinguish every other lamp in every street, rather than create a total blackout in areas.

Mrs Rushton said: "We are pleased with how many people have signed it so far and wish to thank everyone who has supported it.

"But we need more people to sign it – the more support we get the better.

"We urge more people to sign it, we want people from all over Shropshire to sign it, not just Market Drayton.

"We would also like people to share the petition with others on Facebook."

Commenting on the online petition, Alison Wakeford said: "Myself and my children now and then visit friends around Broseley and do not feel safe with the lights out when walking home late."

Mandy Wilcox wrote: "Signing as a Wem resident who is also concerned with the same problem in my town."

Maria Tudor said: "I live in Monkmoor, Shrewsbury, and it's quite scary when the lights go out in my street."

Councillor Tim Beckett, mayor of Market Drayton, said: "We are getting all the facts together and then going to Shropshire Council to try and resolve this issue.

"Obviously any petition will help so we fully support that and ask as many people as possible to sign."

Shropshire Council operates 18,300 street lights around the county and had identified more than 6,000 as being "crucial to public safety", which will remain in constant operation.

It plans to switch about 12,500 of the county's street lights to part night lighting by next year.

Shropshire Council was unavailable to comment today.

But previously, Councillor Claire Wild, cabinet member for highways and transport, said a huge amount of work took place to ensure that the areas included in the programme were suitable. Visit www.thepetitionsite.com/401/722/866/keep-our-streets-lit-and-safe