If you don’t like the plans to switch to part-night street lighting, which are being rolled out across Hertfordshire, you will not be able to influence the policy for another 18 months at least.
In a recent email, the Conservative Cabinet member responsible for Highways confirmed to
his Lib Dem opposite number that the current policy, which introduces a blanket measure of turning some street lights off from midnight till 6am across the whole county, will not be reviewed until the Summer of 2013.
Lib Dem County Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst (Central Watford and Oxhey), who is the Opposition Spokesperson for Highways and Transport, has condemned the decision to delay any review for a whole year after the scheme is completely rolled out across the county.
‘Only the Lib Dems refused to support the policy when it came to the crunch vote – Labour voiced no concern at the time,” said Stephen. “The Lib Dems have consistently said that, whilst there is merit in turning off some lights to save money and cut carbon emissions, the Conservative Council’s policy is just too inflexible.
‘We suggested a more flexible policy that some lights – in areas with a busy urban nightlife, for example – should be switched off at 1 a.m. at the earliest, rather than at midnight. The lights could also be turned back on as early as 5 a.m. on the roads to busy commuter stations. However, why have lights on all night on dual carriageways and high speed roads with no pavements and no pedestrians?
‘I’ve now had confirmation from the Conservative Cabinet Member responsible for the scheme saying he will not allow a review of the policy until Summer 2013. From the queries and questions my Lib Dem colleagues and I are getting from our local residents, this is simply not good enough. While most people might accept that some lights should go off to save electricity and money, some have rightly suggested keeping some lights on to help improve safety, if nothing else.
‘We cannot – and should not have to – wait for 18 months to look that this issue again. I suggest residents join us in calling for the switch-off to be reviewed earlier than summer 2013,’ concluded Stephen. You can sign the online petition to ‘Turn our street lights back on’ here: https://consult.hertsdirect.org/petitions/petition?petition_id=26045
Turning the street lights off at night is pure madness due to the poor conditions of the pavements and roads. There are uneven pavements and pot holes in the road everywhere in St Albans, much like the rest of the country due to years of under-investment in our roads.
The council are likely to end up with a net loss due to injury pay-outs.
Having recently used the streets when the lights are out it doesn’t feel particularly safe. I dread to think how it will make women feel should they need to use the unlit streets between midnight and 6am.
I understand that budgets need to be cut, but street lights are something that benefit all tax payers so how about cutting budgets from those who do not contribute first.