Newport: Street lights switched back on to keep shift workers safe
Half of a city's street lights will be switched back on after shift workers said they felt unsafe at night.Many of Newport's lights were switched off in 2023 to save money, but the city's council has changed its mind, saying safety was a priority. However, some councillors have expressed concerns about the cost and impact on the environment. The council added it could take up to 15 months to restore the lights, as new equipment needed to be installed.
Newport council began reducing street light operating hours in 2012. As part of its 2023-24 budget, the council switched off 19,000 LED lights from midnight to 06:00, excluding the city centre and key highway safety areas. Before that, every other LED light across the city was turned off during those hours.Under the new plan, the council will install light-sensitive cells on thousands of lampposts at an initial cost of £320,000, with annual energy costs projected at £139,000.
Councillor and cabinet member for infrastructure, Rhian Howells, acknowledged that while turning the lights back on came with financial and environmental costs, she said residents feeling safe was the council's top priority. Council leader Dimitri Batrouni said the decision shows the local authority stood with its workers. He also noted that while smart lighting technology was still in its early stages, it represented a promising future the council is keen to explore. Another councillor, Laura Lacey added past financial pressures left the council with little choice but to switch off the lights, but she now fully supported the new policy as the funding was available.
Cabinet member for climate change, Yvonne Forsey expressed concern that switching the streetlights back on could impact the city's environmental goals.She said she hoped the council could adopt new smart light technology, which responds to movement and switch on when pedestrians approach.
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