Blow in fight to get Market Drayton lights switched on at night

People in the town say they are determined to see their campaign through, even though a similar one in Whitchurch was dismissed.

The council dismissed a 1,222-name petition, handed in by campaigner Jane Kirk, who was calling for one in three street lights in Whitchurch to be turned back on.

The authority's transport chief Councillor Claire Wild said it would be more dangerous to switch only some of the lights back on, because it would create a "strobing" effect similar to that seen in discos and slow down drivers' reactions.

A proposal put forward by Councillor Wild at last Thursday's Shropshire Council meeting to take no further action was backed by 37 votes to 24.

Sian Rushton and Mike Smith, who have launched a similar petition in Market Drayton, have described the council's decision as "damaging" to their campaign but have pledged to carry on.

"It is very damaging and what they say about the effect on drivers is a load of rubbish," said Mrs Rushton.

"We want to arrange a meeting with Shropshire Council to work out a solution."

The Market Drayton petition has so far been signed by more than 600 people and Mrs Rushton said she is hoping to reach 1,000 signatures.

"It is important for people to understand the petition is for everyone in Shropshire to sign, not just Market Drayton," she added.

Councillor Tim Beckett, mayor of Market Drayton, said the town council would approach Shropshire Council to try to resolve the issue.

So far thousands of Shropshire Council street lights have been switched off between midnight and 5.30am to cut costs.

At last week's council meeting, Mrs Kirk said turning the lights off in Whitchurch had had a real knock-on effect for places like the civic centre, which holds events at night.

"People tend now to be going home at an earlier time because of the lack of lighting," she said.

"It is dangerous. People are walking in the middle of the road because they don't want to walk on the kerbs because they are so uneven."

But Councillor Wild said she had been advised it would be "extremely dangerous" to switch odd lights back on.

"I was speaking to an expert on this at the council, and he said that if every other light was left on then drivers would not be able to adapt quickly enough," she said."It would create a strobing effect and increase the risk of accidents. It would be similar to a disco where there are strobe lights on."

She added: "We conducted polls and the majority of residents in Shropshire agreed with part night lighting."

To sign the Market Drayton petition visit www.market-drayton.com

Alternatively, call 07534 507532 or 07989 700006.