Powys lights switch-off deferred

Alternate lights will go out in some areas under the plan

A decision whether to switch off more than a third of Powys' 14,000 street lights for a year to save money and energy has been deferred.

People will now have to wait another six weeks before they know whether councillors will back the plans.

Powys Council said it wanted further consultation with town and community councils before making a decision.

But areas covered by CCTV, pedestrian crossings and trunk roads would not be affected.

The local authority said last week that its annual street lighting bill was about �500,000, but was set to rise by �175,000. With soaring costs, coupled with a tight budget, it said it had been forced to adopt a "radical approach".

Night sky pollution

The council's governing board met on Tuesday to vote on the plans.

A spokesman said: "The decision has been deferred for further consultation with town and community councils for about six weeks."

If councillors vote in favour of the project next month then 5,000 lights will be switched off in June. That will rise to 6,400 in the next financial year.

However, areas under threat of reduced lighting have not yet been identified.

Some councils in England, such as Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hampshire and Hertfordshire are already putting similar schemes on trial.

Powys Council said a 36% rise in its street lighting bill had forced it to consider the option.

But it said the plan was good for the environment as it would cut its carbon footprint by up to 1,100 tonnes a year, and reduce night sky pollution.

The council said alternate lights would be switched off under the authority's plans.

But last week the charity Help the Aged feared the move could affect the elderly, and it called on the council to consult the public before a decision is made.

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