Warwickshire county council plans street lighting switch-off

Warwickshire county council has become the latest local authority to plan a street lighting switch-off.

In an attempt to save money and avoid CRC charges, the council is moving forward plans to switch off its street lights between midnight and 5:30am.

The majority of the council’s 49,000 street lights will be turned off in a bid to save around £500,000 a year on electricity bills. The authority claims that plans could also save £180,000 a year from future CRC charges of £12 per tonne of CO2 used.

Warwickshire Police said it has worked closely with the council to reduce any effect on crime levels the switch-off could have.

In spite of this, industry professionals and manufacturers are urging local authorities to consider new and more energy efficient technologies, such as dimming and LEDs.

Concern towards the negative impacts of the switch-off are growing within the local communities of Warwickshire.

Liz Welsh, volunteer co-ordinator of the Warwick-based national crime helpline and charity Safeline, has said, “This needs to be looked at very carefully and consideration needs to be made for those frightened of crime and those who have been victims of it.”

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