Majority back plan to turn off Derbyshire street lights

Plans to temporarily turn off about 40,000 Derbyshire street lights have been approved by 69% of people who responded to a public consultation.

A total of 842 people returned a survey on plans to turn off almost half of the county's 89,000 rural street lights between midnight and 05:30.

Results of the survey showed 69% of voters wanted 900 lights turned off completely.

The county council will discuss the proposals at a meeting on Tuesday.

'Main offenders'

The authority said both measures would together save 2,000 tonnes of carbon every year and save more than £400,000 a year on energy bills.

Councillor Simon Spencer, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "We're committed to cutting our carbon emissions by 25% by 2014/15 and street lighting is one of the main offenders.

"We also need to save £90m over the next four years and with rising energy prices we need to look at ways of doing things differently."

Last year the county council said it spent about £5.5m on lighting and maintaining street lights with £2.7m spent on electricity.

The authority said lights would not be turned off in town centres or areas with an above average record of crime or road accidents.