Street light blackout criticised

Plans to switch off hundreds of street lights in Oxfordshire to cut carbon emissions have been criticised.

The county council wants to blackout short sections of roads between 0030 and 0530 BST.

It claims the move, which is supported by police, would save £7,835 a year and cut CO2 emissions by 45,500 kgs.

But the Taxpayers' Alliance (TPA) said councils should not be cutting public services. Lights will be turned off by next spring in the areas which agree.

Mark Wallace, TPA campaign director, said: "For a lot of people their street lights are just about the only service they thought they could rely on getting.

"It seems absurd that there are going to be turned off."

On the promised environmental benefits, he added: "I would be interested to see if the council is practising what it preaches and stops using cars and taxis for official trips."

Similar schemes have already been set up in Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Essex and Powys in Wales.

'Safety concerns'

So far councils in Kidlington, Cumnor, Gosford, Standlake and Eye and Dunsden have agreed.

While those in Harwell, Bicester, Adderbury, Warborough and Wallingford are being consulted.

Councillor Kate Beswick, from Harwell Parish Council, said: "Personally I think keeping lights on overnight is a waste of time.

"Most people have gone home by midnight, especially older people, so there should not be any risk for anyone falling over without the lights or people feeling unsafe."

Councillor Ian Hudspeth, county council's member for transport, said: "It is important that we reduce our carbon emissions and make financial savings wherever possible.

"We are being very careful. We don't want to switch street lights off at night where there are any safety concerns or where residents raise other potential problems."