Leicestershire street light dimming scheme continues

Thousands more street lights across Leicestershire could be dimmed or switched off overnight in the latest phase of a cost-cutting scheme.

The county council has already turned off 5,000 lights overnight, dimmed 700 others and deactivated 1,000.

It will now survey a further 18,500 to see if they can be adapted for dimming or part-night lighting.

By 2014, the authority hopes to have altered three-quarters of its 68,000 lights to save £700,000 a year.

'Carefully consulted'

It said the changes so far were carried out after consultation with parish councils and the emergency services, and had already saved £40,000.

Lesley Pendleton, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "This is a very ambitious programme but one that has also been carefully consulted on at all stages.

"We understand that people have concerns over safety, but overnight dimming or switching off only takes place when parish councils have been consulted.

"We are making big savings on our energy bill, but not at the expense of public safety or security."