Energy saving hope for new street lights

Aluminium street lights, which can be dimmed to save energy, are to be installed in North Somerset as part of a £240,000 replacement programme.

It is hoped the lightweight metal columns, which are completely recyclable, will save money as well as limiting light pollution.

Many of the current lamp posts are made of concrete and are showing signs of wear, with some at danger of collapse.

Some 149 columns in Kewstoke and Worle, and 132 in Clevedon will be replaced.

"I think there are certain circumstances where we will keep them on all the time," said Conservative deputy leader of North Somerset Council, Elfan Ap Rees.

"In particular what I would call accident blackspots, roundabouts, those sorts of areas.

"Other than that, there's an ongoing debate as to whether it's better to have them dimmed during the night or to switch them off all together.

"Our colleagues in the police force prefer them to be switched off, on the basis that if they're dimmed burglars can still find their way around."