Street lighting proposal to be discussed by Norwich county councillors

For Immediate Release

05 January 2010

Members of Norfolk County Council's Norwich Area Committee meet next week (Tuesday January 12) to discuss proposals to save money and cut light pollution by turning off street lights in quiet residential streets between midnight and 5am.

The County Council is currently consulting with the public on gradually introducing 'part-time' lighting over a three-year period - which would affect more than 7000 street lights in the city of Norwich. The proposal would only apply to quiet streets (and not be carried out in high crime areas) and would help the Authority meet targets to reduce CO2 emissions.

Now the 13 county councillors who sit on the Norwich Area Committee are to discuss the street lighting proposal when they meet at Pilling Park Community Centre at 6.30pm on Tuesday (January 12).

They will hear about how the proposal could work from Mike Jackson, Director of Environment, Planning and Transportation, and Chris Kutesko, from the council's street lighting team.

A report to county councillors on the issue suggests the proposal could achieve annual savings of £167,000 and says that evidence from other areas suggests that part-time lighting does not result in increased crime, but concedes that the idea could impact on perceptions of safety.

It promises that careful monitoring of crime and accident data will be carried out during implementation and that there will be opportunities for specific issues/needs to be raised in advance of any switch-off happening.

Richard Bearman, who chairs the Norwich Area committee and represents the Mancroft division of the County Council, said: “This is an interesting proposal from the County Council to reduce carbon emissions and save money, which Norfolk certainly needs to do. The county councillors representing people in Norwich look forward to having the debate on this issue, and we want the views of our committee and local residents to be fed back to Cabinet before a final decision is taken as part of the budget planning process."

"We also recognise that people will be seeking reassurance that this proposal will not result in increased crime, or risks to personal safety.”

The meeting will also hear details of the Fusion Bus Ticket - launched on January 3 - which allows travel on most bus services in and around Norwich for a single payment. Is hoped the scheme will make bus travel more attractive to passengers by reducing the cost and giving passengers greater choice over which bus they catch.

The meeting will be held at the Pilling Park Community Centre in Pilling Park Road at 6.30pm and members of the public are very welcome to attend.

For political comment

Richard Bearman, Chair (Green), 01603 504124

Mervyn Scutter (Liberal Democrat), 01603 454841

George Nobbs (Labour), 01603 613427

Paul Wells (Conservative), 07920 286608