NEARLY half the street lights in Blaenau Gwent could be switched off under new council proposals to save money.

Blaenau Gwent council is considering switching off 6,000 of the borough’s 13,000 street lights between midnight and dawn on some A and B roads.

If this proposal is passed, it could save the council £180,000 for the next financial year.

Blaenau Gwent cabinet member for highways, Donald Wilcox, said no final decision will be made on where the lights will be switched off until a risk assessment is completed in the next few weeks.

He said the lights would not be switched off in town centres or at key road junctions and the lights in key residential areas would be kept on but some residential areas would be affected.

He said: “We do not want to switch off any lights in Blaenau Gwent, but with the energy costs and low budget settlement we have no option.”

The news has already caused concern among residents. Helen Tucker from Waengron Road in Blaina said: “I think this could cause a lot of problems. Some people are petrified to go out at night already, so this is only going to make things worse.

Christine Goulding, 32, from Blaina said: “I think the plans to turn them off are completely ridiculous and I would definitely think twice before going out when they are off.”

Opposition councillor Hedley McCarthy said the plans will affect the safety and security of everyone in Blaenau Gwent.

The lights being considered for switch-off in Blaenau Gwent are fitted with remote switching technology, enabling them to be switched off from a central location.

A spokeswoman for Blaenau Gwent council confirmed town councils, businesses community and trade unions are now taking part in a consultation process.

She added: “At this stage we have no further plans to consult with local people.”

The final proposals for the budget savings will go to a special meeting of the council’s executive committee on March 2 and to a special Full Council on March 10.

Other councils have considered switch-off

Torfaen council announced in October last year that it needed to reduce its lighting power bill by 50 per cent. Residents in the county are now taking part in a consultation process over the plans which will end next month.

Monmouthshire County Council also proposed switching off certain street lights in certain areas during the night in January.

However, a spokeswoman for the council confirmed it plans to withdraw the proposals after it concluded its consultation process.