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Streetlight 'blackouts' to come?

10:56am Tuesday 12th February 2008

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Streetlights in some areas of the county could be switched off later in the year as part of an energy saving black-out experiment.

Thrifty county councillors warn the cost of powering the 111,000 units under their control is too high and are writing to local and parish councils to explain their proposals.

The Highways and Transport Panel is asking if they would be willing to switch off their lights between Midnight and 6am.

At present, the county's street lighting stock uses the same amount of energy as 4,500 electric fires burning continuously, costing the authority over £2.8 million per year.

Critics nationwide have criticised the idea, calling it mean-spiritied and unnecessary.

Streetlighting, they say, plays a significant role in preventing accidents and deterring crime and antisocial behaviour.

The council, however, claim it is their duty to experiment with such cost-cutting measures.

Councillor Stuart Pile, Executive Member for Highways, Environment and Rural Affairs, said: "While the idea of switching off streetlights is likely to be controversial, the huge amounts of energy involved, not to mention the cost to the taxpayer, make it incumbent upon us to try to find a way of making reductions if we can.

"At this stage we are just sounding out local councils to see whether they would be in favour of the idea and willing to put it to the test for a trial period."

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Your Say YourWatford Observer

toshhorn, watford says...
11:13am Tue 12 Feb 08

Who's idea is this?Let's go green and let everyone get mugged eh!Lighting HELPS security ask any crime prevention officer.

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unknown, Watford says...
11:16am Tue 12 Feb 08

It all depends where you are planning to switch the lights off- use your common sense!! if you counsil ppl have any!!
As some places are dark and muggers/perv's will make the most of no lights!
maybe if you want to go green- try collecting recyling more than once a month might help!!!!

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missh, watford says...
11:47am Tue 12 Feb 08

As a female who works until 12-1am several nights a week I am not really liking what I am reading. Although I drive I still dont like the fact that I will be expected to get out of my car and walk to my house possible in the dark. This seems a very dangerous and silly idea which is obviously down to meeting financial targets rather than looking out for the environment.
Please remind me yet again what our council tax does actually pay for?

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Derek, Watford says...
12:05pm Tue 12 Feb 08

Good idea! I can appreciate some people may have concerns over safety, but there are many places where lights are left on for no real reason. Take the M1 and M25 at 2:00 am for example. Even if they don't leave it totally unlit surely they can switch off many of the lights? Not only would it cut costs, which we would all appreciate when our Council Tax bills come in, but also greenhouse emissions. Don't forget, when the oil runs out we will all have to walk around in the dark, so get used to it!

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unknown, Watford says...
12:20pm Tue 12 Feb 08

i walk everywhere at the mo, from north watford to ricky a few times a week, and i dont like idea of having to walk in the dark, why is the lighting such a big deal, there is many others ways to be green!!
collect recyling, or closer to home you lazy counsilors get out of yours cars ans walk!!!!

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toshhorn, watford says...
12:20pm Tue 12 Feb 08

When the oil runs out we will have to walk about in the dark! I DON'T THINK SO.LEAVE THE BL**DY LIGHTS ALONE.

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unknown, Watford says...
12:34pm Tue 12 Feb 08

Did you know donkeys kill more people a year than there are plane crashes!!

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Simon, Oxhey says...
3:45pm Tue 12 Feb 08

Question is, between 2 am and 5am most weekdays, streetlights in villages and rural areas are lighting up the way for... no one. And the bill goes on our council tax. Seems like a huge waste of money to me.

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toshhorn, watford says...
3:50pm Tue 12 Feb 08

between 2am and 5 am is when the average youngster is getting home from town!!!!!!!!!!

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Simon, Oxhey says...
4:16pm Tue 12 Feb 08

tosh, read my post again. Villages. Not towns. Anyone coming from a town to a village 10 miles away at 3 in the morning is going to be in a taxi or taking a lift, not walking all the way!!!!

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Voice of unreason, Watford says...
5:01pm Tue 12 Feb 08

Simon wrote:
tosh, read my post again. Villages. Not towns. Anyone coming from a town to a village 10 miles away at 3 in the morning is going to be in a taxi or taking a lift, not walking all the way!!!!
How far is Watford to Oxhey Village Simon?

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Hamster, Watford says...
5:15pm Tue 12 Feb 08

Voice of unreason wrote:
Simon wrote: tosh, read my post again. Villages. Not towns. Anyone coming from a town to a village 10 miles away at 3 in the morning is going to be in a taxi or taking a lift, not walking all the way!!!!
How far is Watford to Oxhey Village Simon?
Haha.

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Simon, Oxhey says...
5:16pm Tue 12 Feb 08

Well, I haven't always been a townie. Some us have spent most of our time in the country, and are constantly bemused at the lack of understanding you townies have for anything outside a supermarket shelf or drink-fuelled nightclubs.

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Voice of unreason, Watford says...
5:25pm Tue 12 Feb 08

Whilst I can understand the need to save on the monstrous energy bill....(2.8 million per year) really???? They can't jeopardise the safety of the parishioners for heavens sake, that's ludicrous!!
If they're thinking along those lines why don't they turn off the speed cameras?

Better still why don't they save the same amount by reducing the salary to the Mayor?
Utter drivel!!!

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Voice of unreason, Watford says...
5:35pm Tue 12 Feb 08

Simon wrote:
Well, I haven't always been a townie. Some us have spent most of our time in the country, and are constantly bemused at the lack of understanding you townies have for anything outside a supermarket shelf or drink-fuelled nightclubs.
I don't think you get it Simon, let me spell it out for you simply Simon.......
You live in a Village called Oxhey!!

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Steve, Radlett says...
8:54am Wed 13 Feb 08

Firstly, some of you are stating that the switch off will be between 2am and 5am. The council in the report above are saying 12 midnight to 6am. Secondly, I lived in a large Wiltshire town in the early 70's and the lights were switched off between those hours. Yes there was crime during the dark period but not as prevalent as today. If the stark choice is light or darkness then keep the lights and the costs that are attached, at least we wont have someones death on our conscience. Not that councillors in general have a conscience.

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Simon, Oxhey says...
6:50pm Wed 13 Feb 08

Voice, yes, I know, Oxhey Village is its name, but its part of an urban area, and not and won't be part of these proposals.

There are six parish councils being consulted in Hertfordshire; Shenley, Codicote, Bennington, Sandridge, Much Hadham and Hinxworth.

I think its best if we leave this decision to the country people who live in these areas, rather than telling them what to do.

Now if the reporter had bothered to tell us what places were being considered in the first place, would we all be so concerned?

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Voice of unreason, Watford says...
7:57pm Wed 13 Feb 08

Then I for one will not be frequenting the "Goat" pub in codicote again as i'll probably find myself bumping into things upon chucking out time and, how the hell will I be able to see my beloved Flossie sheep in Sandridge?
Ever thought of being a reporter for the WO, we'll get the full facts then!!

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