The great street light switch off

[McWigglebum4th]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30569215

Labour are very very angry because street lights are being switched off or dimmed to save money


I think it is great we have far too much light pollution as it is and it reduces CO2 which is a backbone labour policy

[grumbledoak]

I wasn't too hot at History, and this was a little before my time, but I was under the impression that humans had survived without street lighting for weeks at a time in the past.

We did pretty well prior to local politics, too.

[Laurel Green]

This was the norm when I was a lad. I say switch them off when it gets dark.

[br d]

I'm in Essex and the lights are off when I leave at 4:45,dont have any problem with it although it's surprising just how dark it is sometimes. Have to grope my way to the van!

[AJS-]

Yes but it's us who are meant to reduce our CO2 emissions by driving less, not the government reducing them by wasting less.

[Vipers]

If they want to save money stop all the fringe benefits to all those bloody politicians and the likes for a start.






P.S. Article said "The move is opposed by motoring groups, with the AA saying it has contributed to car crashes.", not idiots then!

Edited by Vipers on Monday 22 December 07:33

[SkinnyP]

Where I live the council has already turned off the motorway lighting, but has kept street lights on by fitting new LEDs.

[Eric Mc]

I'm all in favour of reduced street lighting.

[JulianHJ]

I'd be happy with reduced lighting too, particularly from, say midnight to 0500, and especially on lesser-used main roads outside of urban areas.

[Blib]

Eric Mc said:

I'm all in favour of reduced street lighting.

Me too. We spend each Easter up in deepest, darkest Suffolk. As a Londoner, the star filled night sky, unaffected by man made light, always impresses.

[BlueMR2]

Leeds spent loads of money having new lights fitted and fiddling with old ones.

Then turned them off for all but an hour a day, great money planning there. To be fair though, it took them over a year to go from installing the poles to having working lights near here. It's just a shame so many are up in the trees so they leave massive black spots on the paths.

[Skipppy]

Blib said:

Me too. We spend each Easter up in deepest, darkest Suffolk. As a Londoner, the star filled night sky, unaffected by man made light, always impresses.

I looked up at the stars in wonder the other night... from Chelmsford, Essex. Brilliant. Keep em switched off.

[Adrian W]

After all who gives a st about people (especially old people) who are now terrified to go out at night because it is to dark to walk the streets where they live.

[killsta]

Adrian W said:

After all who gives a st about people (especially old people) who are now terrified to go out at night because it is to dark to walk the streets where they live.

At midnight?

[jesta1865]

surely if you're in your car you'd have the lights on already? and i have a small torch on my keys so i can see if i go out during the curfew

in essex as well.

[jmorgan]

They are just after votes. Blowing out where the sun don't shine.

[funkyrobot]

Bedford Rascal said:

br d said:

Have to grope my way to the van!

Pretty flimsy excuse. But I like your style!

Groping is the way forward.

[Truckosaurus]

[Citation Needed] but I heard a Police officer on the television making the claim that turning off street lights overnight actually reduced crime as burglars (esp. impulse ones) couldn't see either, so would need to use a torch making them easier to spot by passers-by.

[JustAnotherLogin]

JulianHJ said:

I'd be happy with reduced lighting too, particularly from, say midnight to 0500, and especially on lesser-used main roads outside of urban areas.

I can assure you that if you ever venture outside urban areas to the country, there are no lights to turn off- even on well used roads. Always fun with a townie to stop on a rural road at night and turn the lights off. Most have never seen it that dark before.

[dele]

Since they turned the ones off in my area we've had countless cars vandalised no doubt by little sts running riot after dark

I'd be interested to see any evidence about crime rates before and after