Streetlight Dimming Set To Be Made Permanent

An trial that saw streetlights across Leicestershire dimmed is set to be made permanent after it saved over £500,000.

Most lights were reduced to 30% brightness between 8pm and 7am during the 18-month trial, from January last year to this June.

The county council say no formal complaints were made and there was no evidence the dimming had an impact on increased crime or road traffic collisions.

It will now consider adopting the scheme permanently, after also revealing the move saved enough energy to power up to 500 homes for a year.

The trial is set to be made permanent.

Councillor Charles Whitford, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “We know people had some concerns ahead of this trial, but the data has shown some promising results.”

“We will of course keep listening to residents, working with communities and looking at the evidence available when making decisions about street lighting,”

During the trial, the council said the majority of its 70,000-plus street lights were dimmed, but no changes were made to lighting levels in town centres, at zebra crossings, and in areas with known safety concerns.

Councillors will discuss whether to make the trial permanent at the cabinet meeting on Friday 12 September.

Prior to the trial, some streetlights were already dimmed overnight, while others switch off completely and there will be no change to this.