TORFAEN council is considering installing timer switches on thousands of its street lights, as part of a controversial street light turn-off plan.

The authority announced last month that it needed to reduce its lighting power bill by 50 per cent due to financial constraints, and set up a consultation process until December 31.

Initial plans by the council suggested turning off every other street light in the borough.

At a meeting on Wednesday, councillors heard a range of proposed measures including installing the timer switches. The move would see 4,600 lights switched off between midnight and 5.30am.

Other suggestions include switching off 1,800 street lights along A and B roads in the borough and decommissioning around 4,140 lights or one in three in some residential areas. These lights would not have timer switches.

The package of measures will save around £450,000 a year and under the proposals, main junctions and roundabouts would still be illuminated.

No final decision on the plans will be made until a Cabinet meeting next month and after the consultation exercise.

Councillor John Cunningham, Executive Member for Operational Services, said: "After listening to residents concerns, we are considering whether to install timer switches on 35 per cent of our lights. However, the proposal would mean we would still have to switch off some lights throughout the night including those along A and B roads. "Again, I would like to emphasise that no residential area will be plunged into complete darkness."

There are 13,344 street lights in the borough which cost £400,000 to power last year. This is estimated to rise to £600,000 in this financial year and soar to approximately £900,000 in 2009/10.

Tony Bracher, 62, who lives in Station Road, Pontypool said: “These plans seem a little bit better than before, however they are still not ideal.

“I understand that the council needs to save money, but I think there are other areas that they could do this.”

Residents who want to take part in the consultation, should visit www.torfaen.gov.uk/streetlights or call 01495 762200.