Help us save the night sky
Shropshire residents are being urged to back a campaign to cut light pollution and save energy by switching streetlights off in the middle of the night.
It takes 8.7 million kilowatt-hours of power (and 4,750 tonnes of carbon) to run Shropshire Council’s 18,500 street lights, illuminated signs and traffic signals every year, which is the same amount of power used by 2,600 homes in a typical year.
Converting 12,500 of these lights to part-night lighting, which means they can switch themselves off between midnight and 5.30am, would reduce this by 20% – a saving of 1.7 million kilowatt-hours of power and almost 1,000 tonnes of carbon.
Other areas of the country are already switching streetlights off in the early hours of the morning, and Church Stretton and Cleobury Mortimer are leading the way in Shropshire.
Some lights are being switched off between midnight and 5.30am in Church Stretton from Saturday 1 October 2011, and the plan is to gradually roll out to the rest of the county over the next four years, starting from April 2012.
As well as saving energy, the scheme will save money over the coming years as energy prices rise and the Government’s carbon levy tax starts to take effect. It’s estimated that councils will need to pay £12 a tonne in carbon tax from next year, which would land the council a bill of £57,000 if streetlighting stayed at current levels. The proposals to convert 12,500 of lights to part-night lighting would reduce this by up to 20%.
Reducing street lighting can also be a huge benefit to stargazers. Various campaign groups have been set up to encourage local authorities to cut down on streetlighting so residents can see the wonders of the night sky instead of an orange glow.
The campaign is in partnership with West Mercia Police, and any areas which are a crime concern or need lights for road safety reasons will not have their lights switched off.
Superintendent Pete Lightwood, the West Mercia Police Territorial Commander for Shropshire, who chairs the Safer Stronger Communities Partnership, said he appreciated there would be some concerns over the proposals, but added:
“I know this is a sensitive issue and local policing teams are focused, just as I am, on ensuring we monitor this very thoroughly.
“Crime and disorder statistics will be carefully monitored throughout the pilot projects. However, in other parts of the country where similar schemes are already running, there is no evidence crime has risen as a result. In fact, crime has actually fallen in some areas where lights are switched off at night.
“Where there is a proven need, lights can be retained at night and people can be assured the police will be keeping a close watch on the all-round effects of the pilot schemes to assess their impact.”
Councillor Simon Jones, Shropshire Council cabinet member for transport, said:
“This is a great opportunity for us all to do our bit for the environment, and help the council save money at the same time. Why do we need to spend money lighting up hundreds of miles of empty roads in the middle of the night which could be better spent providing essential services for people? Lots of other areas are already doing this, such as Devon, Powys and Leicestershire, and we have been talking to them in great detail about their experiences to make sure we get it right in Shropshire.”
Cabinet member for sustainability, Councillor Cecilia Motley, added:
“Shropshire Council has set targets of reducing its carbon emissions by 35 per cent by 2014/15. This initiative will not only enhance the environment but will also make a significant contribution to reducing our carbon footprint.”
Church Stretton town councillor, Mike Walker, said:
“The town council has been very much involved in the planning of the pilot project, and I can assure residents that we have thought very carefully about every single light and whether it needs to be on in the middle of the night or not. In areas where elderly or vulnerable people live we are being cautious and keeping the lights on at road junctions. We hope that the pilot proves worthwhile so it can be extended to other residential areas of the town.”
Further notes
It currently costs between £25 and £75 a year, depending on light wattage, in energy bills for every street light that burns throughout the night, and Shropshire Council is responsible for 18,500 lights, illuminated signs and traffic signals across the county, adding up to about £830,000 a year. Switching off 12,500 of these lights in the early hours of the morning, when very few people are on the streets, will save more than £162,000 a year and significantly cut down on light pollution.
Converting the lights to part-night lighting, which is the technical term for the ability to switch themselves off for a period of the night, will cost about £100,000 a year over the next four years. The £162,000 annual saving will be year-on-year, and is likely to increase in the future as energy prices rise.
