Scarborough street lighting night switch-off discussed

A public consultation on whether street lights should be switched off at night is being held in Scarborough.

North Yorkshire County Council said if the plan was introduced it would save about £400,000 as well as reducing the council's carbon footprint.

If approved, lights will be switched off between midnight and 0500, although those in areas where road safety or crime is an issue will be left on.

The council said it hoped to introduce the saving in November.

County Councillor Gareth Dadd, executive member for highways and planning services said: "This is an excellent scheme which will benefit the council taxpayer through reductions in electricity costs and carbon tax."

The consultation is part of a national review of all 49,000 County Council-owned street lights.

A number of councils in England have already introduced the saving, including Leicester City Council and Essex County Council.