Lights off at 1am instead of midnight

[Scooot]

I've just found out they've changed the switch off times http://www.essexhighways.org/Transport-and-Roads/Roads-and-Pavements/Street-lighting/Part-night-lighting.aspx

How on earth does keeping lights on in side streets an extra hour from midnight to 1am benefit the night time economy, and it's going to cost an extra 33k. What a load of tosh!

[ronin]

But Essex has been in a lot of the news about the turning off of lights recently and they found that people wanted them on and were willing to agree to a 2p weekly/monthly rise in council tax to accommodate it.

With that many in effect wanting the light on really the councillors will have little option but to comply/agree, or get deselected or voted off at the next round of elections. And Essex councillors do it seems get a good deal, so being kicked off the gravy boat is something they probably do not want to happen to them.

A lot will depend on where you are, a lot of the news was over Harlow and being a fairly large and built up area maybe leaving them on there is less impact, there will always be a high proportion of light on.

[Scooot]

They didn't ask me lol. I'm going to email them anyway. Theyve spent all that time and money setting it up and researching how beneficial it is overall to then back track.

[SteveNickolls]

They didn't ask me lol. I'm going to email them anyway. Theyve spent all that time and money setting it up and researching how beneficial it is overall to then back track.

Welcome to the whacky world of local government! A lot of councils will be having their elections in May, so that might be a reason for their responsiveness/ability to make U-turns reflecting the concerns of residents. It is interesting to reflect that even if they are over 18 it does not necessarily mean their IQ is:-)

Cheers,

Steve

[jonathan]

I can't say that I have seen any official research stating that street lighting has had any impact on crime rates, be it burglaries or violence; how much violence occurs outside of the city or town centres in the middle of the night anyway?  We know burglaries still occur, from what I've heard they will still just smash the front door in regardless and stab anyone who gets in their way.

I'd rather take a cut in council tax that I could choose to spend on personal IR security lighting as I see fit, at least then they should only come on when there is actually someone around and not be blazing all night.

[trynda1701]

I'm not sure that permasearchlights even discourage theives. A neighbour a few doors along had security lights on permanently, which I could get by observing with by not getting them in line of sight to lose my dark adaption. Still had their shed and portacabin office broken into!

[knobby]

Surely even a scummy thief will have the intelligence to just break in at 1 am instead of midnight 

[ollypenrice]

A more intelligent thief might use the lights to make breaking in easier...

Olly

[damnut]

We are trying to get our council to turn every other light off. There is a light on a walkway that could have been placed three feet to the left and we would not have any light invasion to our garden. However, the council allowed us to hammerite the rear of the shade on the lamp === dark garden!!

[RWB]

Surely even a scummy thief will have the intelligence to just break in at 1 am instead of midnight 

Or as most scum-bags they just wait while you go out to work and break into your home

after all a lot of them are scared of the dark  !!!

[Guest]

I'm glad our street lights go off at midnight, really helps for the viewing... and if any burglars fancy popping over our fence then you're more than welcome to have a viewing of Jupiter just before my dog bites Uranus

[Davey-T]

You think you've got problems 

Perhaps they should call themselves the afraid of the dark campaign not right to light

Dave

[Scooot]

You think you've got problems 

Perhaps they should call themselves the afraid of the dark campaign not right to light

Dave

Street-Lighting.jpg

Oh dear! Somehow marketing needs to be directed at the masses to convey to them its not just about cost but environmental benefits and that lighting actually make crime more likely.

[happy-kat]

Oh I am shocked at such a sad article, I have a right to dark if I want a light on I turn mine on or carry a torch.

Have we got so unresponsible for what we do.