Hayton Village Street Lights to Be Replaced in Energy-Saving Trial

An energy-saving trial will involve the deactivation of street lights and their substitution with alternative lighting in a village. The East Riding of Yorkshire Council plans to switch off all 30 lampposts in Hayton within the next two months, a measure set to last until March 2026. These will be substituted by energy-efficient footpath lighting and solar-powered road studs. This initiative is financed by £3.3m in government funding allocated to the council. This funding is part of Live Labs 2, a UK project aimed at decreasing the carbon footprint associated with street lighting nationwide. The trial itself is being conducted along a 31-mile section encompassing the A1079 Hull-to-York road and the A164. The council stated that the project intends to implement the “next generation” of road signs and markings. Karl Rourke, the service manager for street lighting, traffic signals, and CCTV, indicated that thermal-imaging cameras would be deployed at the test sites to observe driver behaviour and verify the safety of the modifications. Mr. Rourke mentioned that the project incorporates additional visual cues for drivers, such as reflective materials in signage, white lines, and illuminated road studs. He further stated, “The driver will be able to see where the road is going way beyond what they can see through the headlights.” Mr. Rourke affirmed that illumination would continue to be supplied in communities. He elaborated, “We are not proposing to turn any lights off where there are pedestrians and communities already. Neither are we proposing to bring these trials into major urban areas. We are proposing a switch from street lights being the default setting to new ways of doing it.” Charlie Wilson, an apprentice mechanic at Hayton Service Station, acknowledged improvements in car headlights but expressed the view that street lights ought to remain. He commented, “If you drive through the village you can still see people walking or on bikes. I would say keep them.” The council manages 40,000 street lights and 2,300 illuminated signs, with 75% already upgraded to lower-energy LED lighting. The authority reported annual costs of £1.84m for electricity and £850,000 for column maintenance.