Streetlight outage linked to timed switch-off (From Watford Observer)

Streetlight outage linked to timed switch-off

11:40am Tuesday 20th March 2012 in News By Mike Wright, Chief Reporter

The politician in charge of street lights has said yesterday's mass outage appears to be linked with Hertfordshire County Council’s timed lighting shutdown.

Streetlights across the county started cutting out around 7pm last night, plunging parts of towns and villages into darkness.

Since the autumn the council has been switching off the majority of streetlights in south west Hertfordshire between midnight and 6am as part of a £1m cost-saving scheme.

This morning, Stuart Pile, the Conservative cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "In certain areas there appears to have been an issue with the part-night street lighting last night resulting in some lights being switched off early.

“Engineers are working closely with the manufacturer to investigate and correct the problem."