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6000 Blaenau Gwent streetlights could switch-off (From South Wales Argus)
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6000 Blaenau Gwent streetlights could switch-off
11:40am Wednesday 18th February 2009
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. |
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Your Say YourGwent
Pants, Pontypool says...
12:54pm Wed 18 Feb 09
Goldy_Lookin_Clart, Newport says...
1:34pm Wed 18 Feb 09
Bryntrefil, Blaenau Gwent says...
2:25pm Wed 18 Feb 09
there are other ways the council could save money on energy bills, turning pc's off at night or when not in use instead of leaving them on or on standby. I know loads of organisations that do including themselves no doubt
JodieS, cwmbran says...
5:01pm Wed 18 Feb 09
Bobevans, Newport says...
6:45am Thu 19 Feb 09
JodieS wrote:Not true. Yes there is no automatic obligation to provide street lightening but there is an obligation that where street lighting is provided that it should be functional.
Sadly no council has an obligation to provide street lighting. If lights are turned off and there is an accident, there will be no claim. As they, by law do not have to provide lighting.
It is highly unlikely that a corporate manslaughter charge could be bought but there could be a good case for claiming costs from the council should an accident occur due to the street lighting not being on.
You could compare the situation with council run say swimming pools. There is no obligation to provide them but where they do they have to ensure they are run properly an safely or they can face prosecution.
For the small saving to be made by turning the lights off for a few hours a night the costs could be quite high. This would be in increased accidents and increased levels of crime.
Your sayYour Gwent
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Saes, Blaenau Gwent says...
12:26pm Wed 18 Feb 09