Cheshire East Council plans to switch off some street lights to save energy and £450,000 a year, writes Belinda Ryan.
But bosses say assessments will be done because some options carry a greater risk of falls and traffic collisions.
The plan to switch off lights first came to light in the medium term financial statement (MTFS) earlier this year.
At next week’s meeting of the highways and transport committee, members will consider the proposals with a view to going out to public consultation in September or October.
A report to that meeting states: “Council’s energy usage across the whole streetlight stock, together with illuminated traffic signs, bollards and traffic signals was almost 4,800,000 kWh resulting in energy costs of £1.263m.”
It says the aim is to reduce energy consumption by almost 40% and slash the cost by about £450,000 by either turning some street lights off completely, or by switching some off for part of the night, starting from this winter.
All roads with lighting will be assessed before the final proposals are consulted on.
But the report states: “There is likelihood of increased risk of slips, trips and falls, traffic collisions and actual, or perceived, risk of crime.
“There is also likely to be a greater impact on individuals with particularly protected characteristics, including the elderly, disabled and women.
“These will be considered as part of the project and factor into the recommendations on options and technical solutions that are consulted on and subsequently presented to committee for decision.
“Some options may have a greater potential impact on residents’ perception that the streets are less safe and their decision making on whether to go walking in the evening during the longer darker autumn/winter months with associated impact on health.”
When the proposal was first discussed by the committee as part of the MTFS in February, similar concerns were raised by councillors.
Cllr Liz Braithwaite (Lab) said: “Across Macclesfield there is currently a wave of thefts from, and damage to, cars parked on the street.
“This occurs in the early hours. Any decrease in street lighting may aid the criminals.
“And there are also safety issues for those that walk to or cycle to work late at night or early in the morning.”
Crewe councillor Laura Smith (Lab) said: “Lighting on our streets is so important for the safety of people, especially women, and it’s proven that places that are dark and unlit are places where more attacks do happen.”
The committee meets on Thursday (July 20) at 10am at Macclesfield Town Hall.
The public and Council taxpayers are the stakeholders.k
May be the lights could be the ones where when somebody walks under them they turn on, and go off after 10 seconds, an idea. Then on a tv. program about clever people, one of them come up with the idea of putting covers on top of the lamps, which would direct the light down, instead of lighting up the sky as well, there by saving electricity, and money for the council. Has the council considered that the street cameras would be useless, and the rate of break ins would go up, and then attacks on people would also go up, as nobody could see them? The non attendance for the police would go sky high, all that paperwork!
Pot kettle black eh Dave, you have done exactly what you have accused Jo of, Commenting on not actually making a comment Genius, what a twit, go back to sleep
well Dave read again carefully my comment was quote “maybe turn them off after 11pm ” Certainly beats your comment where you actually had zip all to say but think you could act the smart arse with a dumb statement eh?
Then why on earth did you feel the need to comment Jo?
“I’ve got nothing relevant to say but I’m going to say it anyway…”
maybe turn them off after 11pm most people are home by then, but then I never go out after dark anyway, so I am not the best one to ask
Let us hope they do proper consultation and not just by a difficult to find link on a web site.
Accepting that it would cost in difficult financial times, direct contact with residents is only the fairest way to consult, perhaps local Councillors could deliver and collect consultation documents, or arrange a drop off point for responses eg our local Spar Shop and other local amenities.
CEC has difficulty in planning when it will do the consultation eg in September or October and the result will have to then go back to a Committee for ratification etc. Does summer time not end in October so it will be dark from around 5pm as a matter of course?
Assuming that CE are working with stakeholders in the area to ensure a coordinated approach to managing the impact of the decision for example police