700 more Exeter streetlights to go part-time
Around 700 streetlights in residential streets in Heavitree and Whipton Barton will be converted to part-night lighting from Monday 18 January.
The converted streetlights, previously on all-night, will be switched off from about 12:30am to 5:30am, before coming on again at dawn.
The change is part of Devon County Council’s (DCC) on-going programme to reduce costs and carbon emissions across the county.
Lighting on main and on the busiest roads, local footpaths and walk-home routes will remain on all night.
These include Butts Road, between Bovemoors Lane and Fore Street; Whipton Lane between Fore Street and Vaughan Road; the walk-home route between Hamlin Lane to Bovemoors Lane (including South Lawn Terrace, North Street and Church Street).
Lights along Victor Lane and footpath to Whipton Lane and the cycle route adjacent to the playing fields and from Polsloe Bridge to Georges Close will also remain lit all night.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, DCC’s Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “So far 3,000 residential streetlights in Exeter and more than 45,000 in Devon, have been converted over the last seven years.
“Like any household we need to reduce our energy bills and emissions and save money.
“In the areas the scheme has been rolled out it has been a success.
“Since the policy began in 2009 Energy consumption has been cut by nearly 19 per cent, saving £2.8 million in energy costs.
“For street lighting alone, carbon emissions have reduced from 17,300 tonnes in 2009/10 to 14,091 tonnes in 2014/15.
“The feedback we received during the public consultation has helped us develop a network of busy ‘walking home routes’ which will remain lit all night.
“Busy areas of the city centre and main roads will also remain lit all night.”
Councillor Olwyn Foggin, County Councillor for Heavitree and Whipton Barton, said: “There were relatively few objections received in the consultation and there were a substantial number of responses in favour.
“However if residents have any concerns please contact me. If there is a problem nothing has been set in stone we can revisit problem areas.”
Residents can report any issues online at https://new.devon.gov.uk/roadsandtransport or by calling the Customer Service Centre on 0345 155 1004 from 8am – 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am – 1pm on Saturdays.
Devon County Council is responsible for over 77,000 street lights, costing around £3.55million in electricity in 2014/15 and producing nearly 14,300 tonnes of CO2. This accounts for around 30% of the County Council’s annual emissions, which stands at almost 62,000 tonnes of CO2, and is the equivalent of the total annual energy use of 7,300 average Devon homes or a town about the size of Honiton.
