Community streetlight switch off plan approved

Oxfordshire has about 60,000 streetlights

A plan to allow communities to decide if their streetlights are turned off in the early hours of the morning has been approved.

The decision by Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet came after it abandoned a proposal to turn off all of its 60,000 streetlights due to concerns over safety.

Parish and town councils will be able to hold consultations on keeping streets dark between 23:30 and 05:30 in rural locations, and from midnight to 05:30am in urban areas.

Council leader Liz Leffman said: "We have confidence that the updated policy and the way it would be implemented would not reduce public safety."

Each request will be reviewed by Thames Valley Police using crime, fear of crime and road safety data.

There will be some exemptions, where streetlights will need to stay on, such as major road junctions, slip roads, rail crossings and waterside paths.

High crime areas and locations supporting the night-time economy will also not be considered for the programme, including Oxford city, where the lights will stay on all night.

The area's county councillor would also need to support of the scheme if it were to be approved.

The county council said environmental benefits will be gained by reducing carbon emissions and improving biodiversity, as well as cutting energy costs.

Ms Leffman said: "While there are many places where implementation would not be suitable for safety reasons, it's also important to recognise that for some of our communities there would be positive benefits from this.

"For instance, reducing light pollution can help improve biodiversity and nature recovery.

"As a result of cabinet's approval, part-night lighting schemes would only proceed if the community wanted to adopt it."