Lights to go out across south Norwich
Hundreds of street lights could soon be switched off across south Norwich, from midnight to five am. It could save Norfolk County Council £200 thousand each year and reduce CO2 emissions. Their own research shows the move is likely to make people feel less safe.
The changes are planned for streets where both the amount of traffic and crime rates are low. A recent pilot in Essex showed no increase in crime or traffic collisions once the lights were turned off. Paradoxically, they saw an increase in crime during the hours the streets were still lit.
In south Norwich, it means busier streets such as The Avenues, Ipswich Road and Town Close will remain switched on, while smaller residential streets such as Branksome Road, Greenways, Sunningdale and Park Lane won’t. Other exemptions include streets with CCTV, remote alleyways and where street lights have been installed specifically to help stop accidents.
Last May, Mill Hill Road became the first street in Norwich to trial new energy-saving street lights.
The LED lights use around 20 percent less electricity than conventional ones, but are twice as expensive. Norfolk County Council has a programme to replace 30,000 street lights across the county in the next five years, but the new technology needs to be tested before being rolled out further. Martyn Wegg, the council’s street lighting manager said: ” The LED lights are more energy efficient, needs less maintenance and shouldn’t have to be replaced as often.”
Norfolk County Council recognises the savings they predict from switching off the lights during the night can’t be guaranteed. Energy providers could decide to amend the rates they charge to reflect changes in usage patterns. Councillors will discuss the proposals at a meeting this Wednesday, before it’s put to the cabinet on January 25th 2010.
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