East Riding of Yorkshire Council is the latest authority to switch off streetlights in a bid to save cash. The council is consulting on the move, which would save £900,000 a year, as energy bills look set to rise by 18% this year. As well as a post-midnight switch-off in non-crime hotspots, the council also wants to dim lights. This month, Essex CC piloted a switch-off and found after-dark crime went down by 14.5% in one area when lights were turned off from 1am to 6am. This month, Powys CC decided to turn off 64% of its street lamps, saving £225,000 a year. Hampshire CC has switched off streetlighting after midnight for 1,000 residents and introduced reflective road bollards to replace the illuminated versions, while Buckinghamshire CC has turned off 2,000 lights, saving £100,000 a year in energy costs, representing 10% saving in carbon emissions. Paul Bettison, chairman of the LGA environment board, said: ‘Councils want to provide value for money to local people, and it is right that they look at ways of lighting the streets which are less expensive.'
