Politicians' concerns grow as streetlight switch-off ushers in "Age of Darkness

4.37.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 29th Sep 2008

A steady stream of complaints about Powys County Council's mass switch-off of streetlights have been flowing in to the constituency office of Brecon & Radnorshire's Liberal Democrat MP, Roger Williams, and AM Kirsty Williams, as the switch-off gathers momentum.

Both politicians have been critical of the lack of a full consultation process with local town and community councils before the new policy was agreed to and the fact that it was only brought in to address a budget shortfall, rather than as part of a wider council policy shift to reduce energy use to cut carbon emissions and combat climate change.

Commenting on the great switch-off, Mr. Williams said:

" Originally the council consulted with town and community councils on a move towards 'part-night' lighting, in which some lights in non-'core areas' would be switched-off after midnight and come on again in the early hours if necessary. Because the response from local councils was mixed, the council dropped that idea and proposed that every other streetlight in non-core areas be switched off, but without any further consultation with local councils. I am pleased to say that it was Lib. Dem. Powys county councillors who led the opposition to that plan, mainly because of that lack of consultation."

" Now we are faced with something much more far-reaching, and I have correspondence from the council that confirms it is happening to meet a budget-shortfall, not to save the planet. Once again, consultation with local councils has been woefully lacking and local residents are understandably angry. I am very concerned about all the community safety issues this move raises. "

Kirsty Williams AM added:

" While everybody supports the idea of switching off lights that are not needed, evidence is growing that lights are being turned off even where they really are needed, such as over flights of steps on housing estate footways and so on. I understand that council officers have rejected any idea of returning to lights that have now been turned off to turn them back on, even when, as in Rhayader, the local county councillor and town council are prepared to identify where in return for one going back on, another one could be switched off."

" In about a month or so darkness will fall shortly after 4.30 p.m. and the full effects of this switch-off will really be felt. I urge the council to re-think now, before the whole county is plunged in to a true age of darkness for the winter."

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