Hundreds call for street lights to switch back on

Lights are being switched off in the city centre, paths away from roads and places covered by CCTV

More than 1,000 people have signed a petition demanding street lights be switched back on in Coventry.

Since July, the lamps on more than 2,500 city streets have been turned off from midnight to 04:00-05:00 BST.

Councillors agreed the cost-saving move in February, but the online petition expressed concerns for vulnerable residents and called for the authority to reconsider.

Coventry City Council said the e-petition would be considered by a senior councillor.

The petition, set up last month on the council website, referred to the authority's consultation process at the start of the year.

"When you decided to switch the street lights off for the majority of the night, you had a response from only 36 people, which is a ridiculously small number for a city the size of Coventry," it stated.

"Out of those 36 responses there were concerns that the elderly, vulnerable and shift workers might be disproportionately affected by this decision, which is deeply unpopular."

Savings of £700k

In response, a Coventry City spokesperson said all residents had an opportunity to take part in the consultation.

It added: "We understand this move is unpopular with some residents. However, the council is faced with a number of financial pressures which have been caused by underfunding, rising demand and inflation.

"The council has to make savings as a result so it can continue to provide frontline services for the most vulnerable in the city."

It had not seen an increase in crime on streets with "part-night lighting", the authority said.

"As with any petition that reaches this threshold, it will be considered by the relevant cabinet member," the spokesperson added.

The council has previously said the move saved £700,000 in energy costs per year and tackled carbon emissions and light pollution.

The switch off does not affect the city centre, paths away from roads or places covered by CCTV.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.