Spending Review: Swindon lights could be turned off

Hundreds of street lights in Swindon could be switched off to save money, the borough council has said.

The authority said turning off 450 lights would save £25,000.

The amount local councils receive from the government will be cut by 7.1% each year over four years under the Spending Review.

But Cllr Mark Edwards said lights in residential areas would not be turned off. The authority will set next year's budget in December.

Mr Edwards, cabinet member for finance, said: "We've got to look after people, some might be out walking their dogs, and more importantly there are some partially sighted people.

"We can't be turning street lights off outside houses, it's not the right thing to do."

The spokesman said that the Conservative-run authority's budget would be reduced by about a third, or £45m, over the next three years.

Other proposals to save money include looking at changes to adult social care and mental health care services, and moving the tourist information centre into the Central Library.