STREET lights in Magor have been on in the daytime as Monmouthshire council is rolling out a scheme to save money by turning off lights at night time.

Around 16 street lights along the B4245 between Magor and Undy were on in the daytime in October despite the council turning lights off in residential areas between 12am and 5am across the county.

The scheme which is in place in Abergavenny and Chepstow is set to be rolled out county wide and is estimated to make a saving of up to £180,000.

The Argus has previously reported that lights on a number of streets in Chepstow were on during the day including on Mariners Reach, Grasmere Way, Cidermill Close, Thorn Tree Drive, Sharps Way and Rowan Drive.

Chepstow residents have previously expressed their anger over street lights in the town and had concerns over the potential increase in anti-social behaviour as a result of the lights being off at night time.

Caldicot Town councillor Ron Stewart, member for Castle ward, said he had noticed a number of street lights across Monmouthshire on in the daytime over the past few weeks.

He said: “There has been one or two on in Caldicot in the daytime. I noticed a couple near the surgery this week and two going to Chepstow near the two main roundabouts.

“I have previously counted 32 on the way from Caldicot to Chepstow. I reported those lights and they did turn them off. We noticed 16 going through Magor to Undy two weeks ago.”

He added: “It’s a disease – if you were looking around the area I’m sure there would be much more on in the daytime. Something needs to be done about it.”

A Monmouthshire council spokesman said: “There was a problem with the monitoring system, which affected a number of lights. This problem has been resolved on the lights except one, which will be rectified this week.”

Among the other plans to save money on street lights, the council hopes dimming the main street lights from 8am to 7am will save about £32,000, and that other staffing and maintenance costs will reduce spending by a further £63,000.