Another Welsh council is looking into cutting streetlighting, in a bid to make energy and financial savings.
Carmarthenshire County Council has set up a task group to look at the county’s public lighting network, and investigate the option of part-night lighting. Some town and community councils in Carmarthenshire have already introduced part-night lighting in a bid to reduce energy costs and carbon footprint.
Task and finish group chairman, Councillor Jim Jones, said: ‘The group will carefully consider proposals for the council’s public lighting network.
‘There are 18,337 public lighting columns throughout the county and the authority pays out around £560,000 a year in energy costs. However, these costs are rising all the time, so it is vital that we make financial savings, as well as reduce the council’s carbon footprint.’
The councillors will consult with emergency services, the community safety section, road safety unit, traffic management and the public as part of the review.
Other Welsh county councils, Powys and Pembrokeshire, have opted to switch off non-essential streetlights after midnight. Powys is set to establish a long-term policy for each district after concluding a review this month, but one district council has already paid to have its lights turned back on (Surveyor, 23 October 2008).
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