Street light deadline draws near

Derbyshire residents are being urged to have their say after the county council announced plans to cut its annual street lighting budget.
NADV 1211158AM1 Street Lights. (1211158AM1)NADV 1211158AM1 Street Lights. (1211158AM1)
NADV 1211158AM1 Street Lights. (1211158AM1)

Derbyshire County Council has revealed plans to slash its lighting budget by £775,000, with the authority no longer routinely changing bulbs every three years.

There are 89,000 street lights in Derbyshire , and the authority has launched a consultation, which finishes on 8th August.

The authority is considering only replacing bulbs at what it is describing as ‘priority locations’ and wants the public to give views on which locations should be treated as a priority.

The council also wants views on investing in LED lighting, and dimming lights in some locations at night.

Locations that are suggested as street lighting priorities include town centres, places with significant night time accident records, and locations where vulnerable people live.

Spokesman Coun Dean Collins, said: “Because we have to cut £157m from our budgets we’re facing pressures like never before.”

The consultation is online at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/lights.