Staffordshire towns and villages to switch street lights off

[laser_jock99]

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2013/02/21/staffordshire-towns-and-villages-to-switch-street-lights-off/

It means councils can choose to switch off lights in certain roads and areas and help encourage a return to “a more natural night-time environment”.

Bosses today said in some areas, full street lights are not needed. Highways chief Mike Maryon said: “We are a huge rural county and in many areas, parish and town councils don’t feel the full glare of street light is warranted.

“This is very much up to each individual community and councils can decide how many lights in how many roads they want turned off after midnight, for example this could be every other one or two, it really is up to them.”

Councillor Maryon today insisted the financial saving is only small and the decision was one based on saving energy. “The scheme is completely optional and wouldn’t necessarily work for every town or village and communities can look at which lights can be switched off on a case-by-case basis.

“We are certainly not talking about a blanket “switch off” but the feedback from some areas is that they are really keen to return to the natural night-time setting and we are happy to do what we can to support this.”

Sounds encouraging for Staffs astronomers.

[estwing]

whooooooooooooooooooooooooooop oh yeh.....er good news

[tibbz2]

I wish they'd do that around here!

[JamesF]

Very positive attitude I think.

James

[estwing]

why these things are left on after midnight has always puzzled me...

[zedds]

Sounds good. I hope it's here where I live.

[look_up]

Theyve been turning off sections where I live for a while (North West Leicestershire) 9 out of 10 are turned off when I get up at 5am. I get a better nights sleep and cant say its soon enough

[tibbz2]

why these things are left on after midnight has always puzzled me...

There's a Mason bros. depot down the end of the road (not even that big) and it has massive amounts of bright floodlights beaming into the sky all night every night. Why they need them that bright, and that many of them is beyond me...

[cotterless45]

Staffordshire should tell South Derbyshire to get a grip. Had an email that this was a rolling (?) 4 year programme and that we'd be last (as folk here are scared of the dark).

Nick.

[fondofchips]

Lights went the other way on London Road in Derby, lamp posts are about 30% higher & the lamps turn night into day.