'Turn street lights back on'
A petition has been launched to try to get street lights turned back on along a busy stretch of road.
Leicestershire County Council turned off the lights in Sacheverell Way, Groby, in 2010 as part of a scheme to save energy and cash.
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However, the switch-off has left some residents concerned about their safety on the road between Groby and Ratby and 200 people have signed a petition calling on County Hall to turn the lights back on.
Officials said they were preparing to dismantle the lampposts.
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Ozzy O'Shea, borough councillor for Ratby, Bagworth and Thornton – and a retired police officer – is behind the petition.
Councillor O'Shea said: "There have been concerns since the lights went out. A lot of people thought they should never have been switched off.
"The lack of lighting is a worry for pedestrians, dog walkers and joggers – especially young women who feel vulnerable in the dark.
"I cannot stress enough how much footfall this road has during the evening."
"I understand the need to save money and use less energy but there is a security issue here.
"My suggestion is we could turn some back on – perhaps every other light."
Coun O'Shea has left his petition to be signed in shops and pubs in Groby and Ratby.
He said: "There has been a really good response. I will keep collecting for a few more weeks before handing it in to the county council.
The county council estimated it would save £700,000 a year by switching off, dimming or putting some lights on a timer.
A spokeswoman said: "Unfortunately, we are in the unprecedented position of having to make significant financial savings and reduce the county council's carbon consumption.
"These lights were switched off following a risk assessment involving Leicestershire Constabulary.
"There have been no reported injury accidents in Sacheverell Way overnight following the switch-off."
5 Comments
by jimbob6163
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 7:03PM
“Why cannot modern day electronics be used for street lighting, so all lights are off and when movement is detected a car or pedestrian the light come on, this would save millions of pounds for any council if light went on in the direction of movement, also using a form of LED lights that would hardly ever wear out saving costs there too.
Movement sensors today are so accurate one light would tell the other in the direction the car was going to come on for 600 yards and after the movement stops the lights would go off, and all that would be working is a very low voltage sensor money saving all the way also getting rid of light pollution too.”
by Critic56
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 7:02PM
“Turn more lights off - we rely too much on road lighting that is totally unnecessary. We should be looking at turning off around 75% across the board.”
by lessurstrebor
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 1:18PM
“I disagree Kulgan Leicestershire County Council asked all its Parish Councils they're views on this experiment and I can only speak for the Council I was on at the time.
We were unaimously apposed to the switching off of lighting in domestic area's as stated above. This would create security issues aswell as issues with people going off to buying high powered security lighting for their own properties which would then cascade to another problem of light pollution to ajoining properties and eventually desputes between those properties.
We did agree to experimenting on the highways (main roads) However despite our reservations and observations to how it would be deployed were not taken into account or ignored. So in some area's where this is being trialled instead of leaving say every 4 lighting stand on they have turned them all off which in certain conditions and roads is down right dangerous!
Also at junctions or rounabouts they've left the lot on which defeats the object! again these should have been reduced by say half or two thirds!
They haven't really applied sense to how they have done this trial but that's just my opinion.
I have looked at some stretches of roads and the number of lighting stands installed were always looking to be disproportionate when you see the level of lighting.
Again jobs worths and common sense failed I think!”
by Moonrat
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 8:40AM
“Well done Ozzie
The turning off of street lighting is a security issue and one that has adversely affected the residents of Mountsorrel Rothley and Birstall.
Not everyone finishes at 5pm before it gets dark. I often get home after midnight and I genuinely can't see to put my key in the door. My car was broken into on my driveway and the stereo stolen shortly after the council turned off the light in the name of saving money.
The fact is that an opportunistic thief will be attracted to areas where it is dark and they can't be seen. It's not rocket science.
Leicestershire police have been focussing more patrols in these areas lately after an increase in vehicle thefts and burglaries with officers being drawn from specialist departments at headquarters to bolster the numbers.
In this day and age where councils and officials pay regular lip service to phrases such as 'working in partnership' when are the council going to do their bit in the name of crime prevention?
I have recently complained to the council but have yet to receive a response”
by KulganCrydee
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 7:47AM
“I have always found the in-built light projecting system (headlights) of my car useful when driving in areas without street lighting. I have driven down this road many times and as long as people use their vehicle's in-built light projection system there is no reason for the street lights to be switched back on at night. Leave them switched off.”