Newton Abbot street lighting to go part-night
By newtonnews | Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 10:03
Residential streets in Newton Abbot are the latest to be converted to part-night lighting from this week.
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Some Newton Abbot areas to have part-night street lighting.
Around 2,000 lights in some residential areas of the town will be switched off overnight as part of Devon County Council’s on-going programme which they say will reduce costs and carbon emissions continues across the county.
Castlewood Avenue, Holbeam Close, Sandford View, College Road, Moorland View and Swanborough Road are among the roads which will undergo conversion over the next few weeks. The lights in these streets, which were previously on throughout the night, will be switched off between about 12.30am and 5.30am before coming on again until dawn.
The main town centre streets and A and B roads will remain lit all night but consideration will be given to dimming lights where possible.
Lights have already been converted or in the process of being converted in 80 communities across Devon including Ashburton, Buckfastleigh, South Brent, Totnes, Bovey Tracey, Chudleigh, Kingsteignton, Kingsbridge, Salcombe, Chagford, Okehampton, Crediton, Exmouth, Bideford, and Ottery St Mary.
Councillor Gordon Hook, local County Councillor for Newton Abbot South, said: "Saving tax payers money, reducing electricity consumption and improving our collective carbon footprint all makes very good environmental and economic sense. However, I shall be watching very closely to see if there is any downside to this - increases in crime, vandalism or accidents will not be acceptable."
For more information visit: www.devon.gov.uk/streetlighting or call 0845 155 1004.
Comments
Councillor Hook says he will be 'watching very closely.....to see if there is any.....increases in crime, vandalism or accidents'. I think it would be a little late to wait until something happens - we would all be most concerned to read of someone being attacked in a pitch dark street and would not be happy just knowing that Councillor Hook was keeping and eye on things. Locking the stable door after the horse has bolted springs to mind!
By Heidi_girl at 01:44 on 27/01/11
ReportI can completely understand people wanting to save energy and carbon reduction.....however....as a single female who lives in Newton Abbot I am significantly concerned about the safety issues that this would raise. I have no desire to walk through certain parts of town in the pitch black!
By jules898 at 20:26 on 22/01/11
ReportIn the winter as well? Stupid idea isn't it? I have lived in Hong Kong and know just what you mean. But is this a drive to help the environment or to help the purse strings of the local council? Obviously cuts have to be made somewhere but why not wait until the summer is hear, and longer evenings before plunging people in to darkness. Eg. If you are a single woman and you buy a house in a well-lit road because you know you'll have to walk home from the bus stop every night, or you have to park on the road, then this would really backfire on you and suddenly, through no fault of your own, you could be facing danger. No one should have to walk home in the dark in a residential area like this. I note there was no public consultation before making the decision!
By Peggie13 at 13:29 on 21/01/11
ReportHere we go again - the 'carbon cutting' brigade will no doubt be delighted that our residential roads are to be plunged into total darkness, making the streets less safe during the night hours. At the same time, many office blocks and shops are blazing light out all night long. Carbon reduction is a global issue - why is it always the UK making what, on a global scale, are small efforts compared to the highly illuminated streets of places such as Hong Kong. I saw a friend's photos of Hong Kong harbour recently, and there must have been millions of lights shining out all night long. I really don't believe that a few dark streets in Newton Abbot are going to save the world - but they might make life more difficult for some local residents.
By Nitida at 02:11 on 13/01/11
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