Decision details

To approve the implementation of a part night lighting programme across the Council’s street lighting assets

RESOLVED:

1. That the implementation of a part-night lighting policy across Surrey commencing with residential roads where assessed safe to do so be approved resulting in lights in selected roads being turned off from midnight to 0500 hours each night.
2. That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director for Highways and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Flooding to determine the final programme of roads included and in future to vary the road categories to be included and future timings of part-night lighting in response to local circumstances where assessed to be safe to do so.

Reasons for Decisions

The introduction of the Central Management System for controlling street lights initially allowed the Council to introduce a dimming regime in 2010 but also provided the future flexibility to adapt lighting profiles including turning lights off. The expected £210,000 annual saving represents a 7% saving on the Council’s electricity budget.  The reduction in CO2 output by 1250 tonnes per annum as a result not only contributes to the Council’s objective to reduce its CO2 impact but achieves a further £22,500 saving in avoided Carbon Tax.

The recommendations follow a review of the increasing number of local authorities implementing part-night lighting and the outcome of the research by the LANTERNS project as described in point 8. Whilst the Council’s public consultation identified concerns around personal safety and road safety with implementing part-night lighting, over 75% of respondents were in favour of switching off at least some street lights.

Building on good practice in other local authorities, the introduction of part-night lighting will only be implemented in locations where it is deemed safe to do so based on a combination of factors including a site visit and risk assessment and, consultation with the Council’s Road Safety Team and Surrey Police to mitigate against the concerns highlighted