More North Somerset street lights switched off

A further 500 street lights are to be switched off in North Somerset to reduce carbon emissions and save costs.

The council said turning off the lights between 0030 and 0500 BST would save £18,500 a year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 122 tonnes a year.

The move follows a two-year trial of switching off lights on parts of the A370 and A371.

Councillor Elfan Ap Rees said: "It still only represents approximately 2% of the street lighting."

'No adverse effect'

The next lights to be switched off have been selected in consultation with Avon and Somerset Police and the Highways Authority and include sections on the A38, A369 and A370.

Councillor Rees, the council's deputy leader and executive member for highways, said there were still opportunities for more lights to be turned off as there were 20,000 across the area.

"Other notable projects are the installation of all new lighting with dimming and switch-off options and the removal of 50 illuminated traffic bollards to a non-lit type," he said.

"This latter initiative will save over £1,000 a year in energy costs and 7.5 tonnes of carbon."

Ch Insp Jeff Foreman, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: "We have monitored the effect of switching off street lighting in certain areas of North Somerset and have not noticed an adverse effect on either crime or road safety."