STREET lights will be on for an extra two hours every night under a proposal by Newport City Council to switch to LED lights across the city.

A council report says the move could save the authority £212,000 per year and will also be a "major step" towards being carbon neutral by 2030.

Currently every other street light in the city goes off at 10pm until 6am - a policy which was introduced in 2011 to maximise savings.

However the arrangement has drawn concerns from residents, businesses and councillors.

"The current part time lighting scheme within the city has generated significant public and member concerns," a council report says.

"The views of residents, members and businesses are well documented and the relaxation in the part time hours will go some way to reducing these concerns."

A consultation with councillors has been launched to consider an option to reduce the part lighting period from midnight to 6am.

Council documents say the introduction of LEDs and subsequent saving on energy usage means a reduction in the hours of part lighting is more affordable.

Last year it cost £993,960 to operate the city’s street lights, signs, signals and bollards.

But after the first year of completion, Newport council says the move to LEDs could see an electricity bill saving of more than £500,000 per year.

In recent years if a street light was beyond repair the council has replaced it with an LED light and so far 3,262 of its 18,519 street lamps have been converted.

Newport council says there is a "strong business case" for making the switch as electricity costs are due to rise in the future and carbon emissions need to be reduced.

A zero per cent interest loan for up to £3.3m was secured by the council last March to cover the investment.

A net saving of £212,000 would be made if part time lighting hours are reduced from 12am to 6am, with a saving of £240,000 if current lighting hours are kept.

The move would also reduce the council's carbon emissions by 6.5 per cent per year.

The scheme has also been identified as complying with the council’s corporate plan objective to promote economic growth and regeneration whilst protecting the environment.

Cllr Roger Jeavons, the council’s cabinet member for Streetscene, is due to make the delegated decision on Friday (February 1), following a consultation with councillors.