English Councils Address Street Lighting Policies Amid Financial and Safety Debates

Councils in Oxfordshire, West Berkshire, and Slough may dim or deactivate street lights overnight in the coming years, a trend that many other local authorities are likely to adopt if they haven’t already. It is estimated that just over half of English councils responsible for street lighting have chosen to dim or switch off lights overnight over the past decade. Many of these councils have cited significant financial pressures, which they have faced for years, and research concerning the impact of street lights on crime rates. A 2015 study, which analyzed 14 years of data from 62 councils across England and Wales, concluded that street lighting could be “reduced” without an increase in car crashes and crime, finding “no evidence” of an association between reduced lighting and higher offending. Conversely, the College of Policing has indicated that street lighting can have a “very strong” impact on cutting crime. However, Jeff Brooks, leader of West Berkshire Council, stated that its funding “doesn’t go as far as it used to,” making change necessary. He noted that the £50,000 his authority could save by turning lights off on residential roads between midnight and 05:00 is needed. Residents are being asked for their views on this as part of a consultation on its forthcoming budget, which aims to save a total of £1.7m. Slough’s borough council reported that a substantial increase in energy costs over recent years necessitates annual savings of £112,000 through dimming lights. The authority, which was effectively declared bankrupt in 2021, stated that its bill to power its 11,600 lights more than doubled between the 2021/22 and 2022/23 fiscal years. Oxfordshire County Council’s plan to switch off most of its 60,000 street lights overnight has been paused following public concern over safety. The authority clarified that its proposal was “primarily intended and focussed on reducing artificial night-time light” rather than to save money. Deputy leader Pete Sudbury explained that his council’s plan centered on health reasons and wildlife. He told BBC Radio Oxford, “Having lights on all the time is not great for human health. It’s much better if it’s really dark when you’re asleep and [having lights on overnight is] really bad for wildlife, particularly insects.” But Lisa Ward, a Bicester-based expert in violence against women and girls, expressed concerns, stating: “I travel to London quite frequently. My train doesn’t get back until gone 23:00 so that would mean the shortish walk I have from the train station back to my house potentially would be unlit.“I think you’ll end up with people getting taxis, which won’t help the environmental situation at all.” In parts of Dorset, some lights have been switched off between midnight and 05:30 since 2014. Hampshire and Southampton councils have reported satisfaction with the impact of their cost-saving schemes after adopting similar measures. Hampshire County Council stated in January that there was no evidence to suggest their changes to dim and turn off lights would lead to an increase in crime. The council added that it was under “immense” pressure to make cuts and, on Friday, indicated it faces effectively going bankrupt within two years if it does not receive more government support. Southampton City Council extended the period its lights were off overnight by another hour late last year, following a scheme that began in April 2023. Last December, the council announced it would increase its switch-off hours to between 01:00 and 05:30, from the previous 01:00 and 04:00. Meanwhile, in Surrey, over 30,000 street lights were turned off between midnight and 05:00 in December 2016. Surrey County Council subsequently reduced this period by an hour in November 2017, leaving them on between 01:00 and 05:00, after “listening to residents’ concerns.” However, BBC political reporter Jack Fiehn noted that the plan remains contentious and has “regularly come up at council meetings over the years.” Consequently, regardless of the decisions made across West Berkshire, Slough, Oxfordshire, or elsewhere, it is likely that some individuals will remain dissatisfied.