Leicestershire: Council to vote on street light dimming trial

The proposals come as the authority aims to fill a funding gap in its budget

Street lights in Leicestershire could soon be dimmed earlier in the evening as a council plans to cut costs.

Leicestershire County Council has proposed dimming the majority of lights to 30% brightness two hours earlier.

Street lights would be dimmed from 20:00 - rather than 22:00 - during an 18-month trial, if the proposals are approved at a meeting on Tuesday.

The plans come as the council faces its "toughest" budget, with an £85m shortfall expected by 2028.

Council officers have advised the trial to begin in February.

A public consultation showed 53% of residents disagree with the plans, with 43% agreeing with the proposals, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Currently, many residential areas are lit at 50% brightness between 20:00 and 22:00, at which point it drops to 30%.

'The right thing'

Council officers have said the authority needs to make £500,000 worth of savings in the street light department by the 2024-25 financial year.

However, the authority is suggesting some exemptions to the earlier dimming of the lights, which means this scheme would only cut about £380,000 from its spending.

Other service reductions may therefore become necessary, the council said.

It currently maintains approximately 69,600 street lights.

Lead member for transport and highways Ozzy O'Shea previously said: "I have been on streets where the 30% is actually in at the present time and I must be honest with you, I don't see a lot of difference at all, if any.

"We're doing the right thing here."