Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

The latest WC scheme to save money..

Wiltshire Council plans to cut the amount of money it spends on street lighting, and is consulting on proposals to dim some lights and remove others.

The council highlights the fact that there is no legal requirement for councils to provide street lights, and that if the proposals go ahead it would save £300,000 per annum.

Wiltshire has over 40,000 streetlights and most of these are on all night. WC proposes to convert about half of the these to operate for part of the night - generally they will be switched off between midnight and 5.30 am.

Lights at road junctions, pedestrian crossings and where required for safety will remain on all night.

Light levels on some street lights could be adjusted to be dimmer when traffic flows and pedestrian movements are reduced.

Lighting where there are CCTV systems, in town centres, and in areas where crime is a problem will not be effected.

The WC energy budget for street lighting is over £1.2 million, and energy costs will increase in the future, especially with the introduction of the carbon tax.

The technology exists for a high-tech system which would see lighting levels around the county being controlled and adjusted by computer. The central management system would enable individual lights to be operated separately. For example, lights in some streets could be timed to come on or go off at particular times according to circumstances. Lighting in town centres could be dimmed or turned off during the evenings, but turned up late at night when people leave clubs and pubs. The lighting times can be changed remotely, and the system can accommodate changes to British Summer Time. Lights that are faulty, or remain on all day, can be detected remotely and repair schedules set up.

Over 1,300 street lights have already been converted to part night lighting.

Following this consultation, the scheme will be worked-up in more detail. Further consultations will then be held with Town and Parish Councils on the details.

If you have any comments on the proposals go to http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/council/consultations.htm

Or e-mail streetlighting@wiltshire.gov.uk

All comments should be made by 31st August.