As the nights draw in, some Tories and Labour leave their residents in the dark

[Maggy J]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/20...cidents-labour

A survey of local authority street lighting policies, commissioned by Labour, has revealed that most Conservative-controlled county councils and unitary authorities are switching lights off for hours every night.
Studies suggest that reductions in street lighting lead to more road accidents, higher crime and a reduced sense of safety, yet many councils trying to balance their books are cutting back on street lights.
Overall, 41 of the 82 councils surveyed (50%) are turning off lights altogether or for part of the night. Of the 49 Tory authorities in the survey, 30 have turned off some lights altogether orfor part of the night. The survey also finds that four Labour-controlled authorities out of 17 have followed suit.

If this is true it is rather worrying..It's already darker around here because our local council are using low energy bulbs in the street lights.Turning the lights off altogether cannot be safe for the community as a whole.

[Gary L]

It's to do with cutbacks, and the electricity bill.

[nomadking]

So whose 'bright' idea was it?

The Tories pointed out that in 2007 Benn had launched the Carbon Trust standard, which worked with councils that cut street lighting on selected roads during the night in a bid to reduce their carbon emissions.

There are stories of councils switching off street lights happening under the previous Labour government.

[Cobbydaler]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/20...cidents-labourIf this is true it is rather worrying..It's already darker around here because our local council are using low energy bulbs in the street lights.Turning the lights off altogether cannot be safe for the community as a whole.

Typical Guardian twaddle.

So do we reduce spending on 20mph zones, speed bumps etc, or cut electicity costs? The Guardian is as bad as The Mail...

[mertle]

shocking senseless act to do.

Its like defacto martial law as you would not want to walk on your own at night in fear of mugged or worse raped/murdered.

Surely police have say should have say.

Our petrol station was recomended 24 open as it kept getting burgled.

I hope we dont get muggings/rapes/murders before police demand councils to put lights back on.

No good them pleading hindsight lights should always stay on after dark for safety.

[nomadking]

So should we have the WHOLE country floodlight, just so somebody can walk around at 4 in the morning.

For a burglar to be seen at night with lights on, there still has to be somebody looking in that direction to see them. A potential attacker can still hide or just appear in a normal manner. Street lights aren't going to make much of a difference. Attacks still take place in the daytime, never mind places at night with street lights. The biggest deterrence is where there is a greater likelihood of somebody else moving around the area.

In the areas claim increased crime as a result, was there any increase in daytime crime? Was it part of a general increase in crime in the area?

[alexcopeland]

http://www.thecomet.net/news/arrest_...case_1_1484887

The lights in Stevenage are always out now. Lucky they got the guy but still.

[RizzyKing]

I live on a mainroad and our lights go off at quarter past midnight. Since this policy came in we have had eight serious car accidents that's in just a few.months. I know some will say driver fault but when people are used to lights and then they are gone it has an effect. Also many people no longer feel as safe walking around late at night.

[Hugh]

Originally Posted by mertle

shocking senseless act to do.

Its like defacto martial law as you would not want to walk on your own at night in fear of mugged or worse raped/murdered.

Surely police have say should have say.

Our petrol station was recomended 24 open as it kept getting burgled.

I hope we dont get muggings/rapes/murders before police demand councils to put lights back on.

No good them pleading hindsight lights should always stay on after dark for safety.

Yes, you are right - not having some street lights is exactly like having the military deployed in the streets, with the suspension of civil law....:

You should write for the Daily Mail.

[Damien]

Roads that people need to drive on really should be lit...

[Maggy J]

Originally Posted by nomadking

So should we have the WHOLE country floodlight, just so somebody can walk around at 4 in the morning.

For a burglar to be seen at night with lights on, there still has to be somebody looking in that direction to see them. A potential attacker can still hide or just appear in a normal manner. Street lights aren't going to make much of a difference. Attacks still take place in the daytime, never mind places at night with street lights. The biggest deterrence is where there is a greater likelihood of somebody else moving around the area.

In the areas claim increased crime as a result, was there any increase in daytime crime? Was it part of a general increase in crime in the area?

No! Just the streets I want to walk along or that I want to drive along.

My husband goes to work at 5am some mornings.Not too bad in the summer and yes the lights aren't necessary then.However during the winter months it seldom gets light enough by 7 so I don't want him and all the other shift workers driving and walking through dark streets.If the council is going to charge me for the lighting I want the lighting on..If not I want a reduction in my tax.

[Pierre]

I know that it's a fact that most burglaries occur during the day.

I tried to find some official info but could only find a quote on this site, I don't know where they got their info from.

Most burglaries would occur during the night, in fact almost twice as many happened during the day during 2010 (722,231 during the day vs 389,910 at night).

http://www.directtrafficmedia.co.uk/...-home-security.

Roads that people need to drive on really should be lit...

I have lights on my car!!!!!!!

Doesn't anyone else?

---------- Post added at 09:07 ---------- Previous post was at 09:06 ----------

Originally Posted by Maggy J

No! Just the streets I want to walk along or that I want to drive along.

My husband goes to work at 5am some mornings.Not too bad in the summer and yes the lights aren't necessary then.However during the winter months it seldom gets light enough by 7 so I don't want him and all the other shift workers driving and walking through dark streets.If the council is going to charge me for the lighting I want the lighting on..If not I want a reduction in my tax.

Don't the lights on your hubbys car work??????????

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Yes, you are right - not having some street lights is exactly like having the military deployed in the streets, with the suspension of civil law....:

You should write for the Daily Mail.

Thinking about it. it could be a ploy to increase crime and such. so much infact that they come up with new rules with fines attached, and a newly introduced police state.

[Damien]

Originally Posted by Pierre

I have lights on my car!!!!!!!

Doesn't anyone else?

Yes but it's no replacement for lights on the road. You get to see further and see more detail...

[Gary L]

A long stretch of the M5 isn't lit at all. some people find it a problem, some don't.

in the case of normal roads though. I think they should stay lit.
there will come a time where insufficient lighting will be on the 'No win no fee' list.