A cost-cutting scheme to switch off street lights in Watford at night has come under fire for not having a proper appeals process.

Politicians in the town have said the scheme lacks “flexibility” after their appeals to have lights kept on in roads with high crime and accidents have fallen on deaf ears.

Ian Brandon, the Green Party county councillor for the Callowland and Leggatts area, said he had been working with his Liberal Democrat colleague, Stephen Giles-Medhurst, to save certain roads from the blackout, currently being rolled out.

However he said that county was only listening to representations over roads that came from the police.

Councillor Brandon said: “We have asked for there to be more flexibility. It (the appeals process) has to go through a ridiculous process where lots of people have to review it.”

His comments were backed up by Labour county councillor for Vicarage and Holywell Nigel Bell, who said residents were not finding out about the blackout until it had happened.

He said they had been left with no clear appeal process other than getting in contact with their county councillor if they felt lights should be kept on in certain roads.

The Watford Observer contacted the Conservative portfolio holder in charge of the scheme, Stuart Pile, but he was unavailable for comment.

In the past Councillor Pile has argued for the lights switch-off, saying it will help the council save more than £1m a year on its electricity bill and reduce its carbon footprint.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst said he agreed with the switch-off scheme in principle but said it did need to be more closely tailored to local factors.

He said he felt there was a case for turning lights off on main roads where there are no pedestrian footpaths and called for a more “localised” approach.

Coucillor Giles-Medhurst: “There is a box-ticking approach.”