STREET LIGHTING BEING SWITCHED OFF

[Ann]

I am in absolute despair - our council have come round this morning and fiddled with the street lights in every street on our estate and slapped a notice on saying they are now on "part lighting" I rang County Hall and they said "after lengthy CONSULTATION (not with residents!) they had decided to do this to save money and switch them off completely (not just dim them) all over our very large estate, between 12.30am - 5.30am. I knew the scheme was being introduced but thought it was just for motorways etc and not residential areas. I am absolutely fuming and upset - we have already had 2 burglaries in our street. We have been very fortunate to have a street light directly opposite which lit up our bedroom which I loved as I am really terrified of the dark. What kind of light can we install outside which could be left on all night, which wouldn't cost the earth and would give me some peace of mind?

[sallybb]

Like Lofty Lottie I also live in the countryside and we all provide our own night time lighting here. As previous answers , install sensor lights which will only work with movement , so wont cost a bomb to run, our problem here is they are set off by all the wonderful widelife during the night. We have had on a couple of ocassions snoopers sussing out the property, but the lights soon send them off along with the dog hot on their heels.

[LoftyLottie]

We get the same problem Sally, wildlife setting off the lights, but like you, the dog is the best deterrent!

[LoftyLottie]

I suppose the point is we don't leave our lights on all night. It seems such a dreadful waste of energy to have lights between 12.30 and 5.30 am when the vast majority of us are sleeping.

And if you are out and about in the early hours there are always torches.

[sallybb]

Quite a few burgleries in this area also, we find the alarms are not a deterrent, even in daylight but people with dogs dont seem to be hit so often.

[LoftyLottie]

The police informed us when our neighbours (who have alarms, lights, etc) that we have the best deterrent of all - the dog!! We have never been without a dog/dogs in the 30 years we have lived here and I feel much safer with her around. She has a big bark for a little dog!!

[LoftyLottie]

'when our neighbours were robbed' !

[bagpuss63]

Ann 86 I also usually can't sleep in the dark, but last night shocked myself,son stayed, and was so tired after 2 very bad nights put light off,left landing on ,and slept all night-son put light off about 1am he said. I thought i was scared of the dark, but obviously its been alone-especially since riots. Get sensor light for driveway-i would if had a car-its dark by me

[LoftyLottie]

It's so lovely being able to see the night sky Eddie. I often go outside at night in our garden just to stand and wonder at it all. Wouldn't swap it for the world.

[Ann]

Its obvious by your answers that nobody agrees with me or even understands what its like to be afraid of the dark. I hope you never have cause to be afraid in YOUR lives.................. of course I too like to see the stars etc it depends if there is a bright moon shining, but i feel very vulnerable in the pitch dark on a cloudy night, especially if I am walking down a street, even with the help of a torch. Luckily I'm not often out around 12.30am but plenty of people are. Let me tell you that I have just spoken to other people in my street who are just as angry and upset as me, and dreading tonight - our first night without the lights. I am not a nutcase, just a normal person with feelings.

[boxtops]

If so many people in your street are angry, don't put up with it, get up a petition to the council, be proactive. I have to say though, we have a street light on all night right outside our house, and it didn't stop the blaggard who vandalised and broke into my car a couple of years ago. A sensor light for you would be the best option, if anyone comes near, the light goes on.

[The-HouseHusband]

Must say I can understand your fear of the dark Ann, lots of people have fears and phobias. However I do not believe that it is the councils responsibility to help you with these things.

The only areas that require street lighting between midnight and five in the morning are accident black spots. Vehicles have decent lights and it is easier to spot oncoming traffic without the glare of headlights.

The lack of lighting on housing estates would have the benefit of breaking up the groups of youths who hang around the place, as they would not be able to see anything so would hopefully go to one of their places and not be an annoyance to the rest of us.
As others have rightly stated, the lack of lighting would have little if any effect on burglary's. Most break ins are effected from the rear of the house as this affords the most privacy to the burglar.

To make you feel safer in your home and ease your fears the best bet is to take simple measures to ensure your home is secure as possible. Make sure all doors and windows are fitted with quality deadlocks and fit movement sensing lights around the exterior of your property. Also have a high quality alarm fitted with offsite monitoring if you can afford it. As a last resort fit a decent CCTV system with a hard drive recorder so that you will have footage of anyone encroaching on your property.

To assist you in side put the plug in type LED night lights into suitable sockets where required in the home. These usually have a sensor fitted so will come on at dusk and go off at dawn. The one we use on our landing draws around 5Watts of power and gives off plenty of light for the family to move around at night without the need for the main lights which just blind you if turned on when you have just woke up. Compare this with the average street light that has a power consumption of between 200 and 250Watts.

You are paying for the cheaper one through your utility bills and you are paying for the expensive ones via your council tax. At least if they make some savings in areas such as lighting they wont have to make cut backs in other areas. Everyone needs to tighten their belts at the moment or would you prefer people to be made redundant so the lights can stay on out side your house!!