Light's out

bobmac

bobmac

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My local council is turning off selected street lights between midnight and 6am in an effort to reduce their £41m deficit. Luckily for us, the drug dealers, burglars and muggers all go to bed at midnight.
And if that doesn't rip your knittin, the council tax is set to increase by another 3.95 % at the end of the year.
Thoughts?
 
Councils can't get it right. They need to cut cost, or raise more money, or do something in-between.
You rather have a lit street with no council tax increase but monthly bin collection?
 
I think streetlights are over used in many areas and are one way councils can save money and of course it's good for the environment. I accept that it isn't feasible in many places. However, I live in a semi rural area and I think it's a real shame that We can no longer go anywhere to see the stars at night due to light pollution. Not even up in the hills or on the moors. I remember driving between Dundee and Aberdeen on a clear winters night and stopping the car just to look. The sky was a blanket of stars. Absolutely incredible. I hadn't seen anything like it since I was a kid and yet it's all there every night (cloud permitting). Such a shame we have to light everywhere just because of a few bad examples of humanity.
 
larmen said:
Councils can't get it right. They need to cut cost, or raise more money, or do something in-between.
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They are doing both, an increase in council tax and dark streets.

larmen said:
You rather have a lit street with no council tax increase but monthly bin collection?
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We already have to pay extra on top of our council tax for our garden waste bin and that increased this year by 25% on last year
It just seems we are paying more every year for fewer services.
Did I mention that the wage bill for the councillors now stands at £1.1m
 
Reduction in light pollution? Unnecessary lighting? Depends on your perspective. We have some movement activated lights by us now. They come on as you get near them. Decent compromise.
 
bobmac said:
My local council is turning off selected street lights between midnight and 6am in an effort to reduce their £41m deficit. Luckily for us, the drug dealers, burglars and muggers all go to bed at midnight.
And if that doesn't rip your knittin, the council tax is set to increase by another 3.95 % at the end of the year.
Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Disgraceful, money before safety again.
 
I have always considered there are too many street lights. In most places it would make no difference to turn half of them off. There are also areas of Motorways where there are many miles of unnecessary lights that must cost a fortune. Reducing demand for electricity must be a worth while consideration, how about LED lights?
 
SocketRocket said:
I have always considered there are too many street lights. In most places it would make no difference to turn half of them off. There are also areas of Motorways where there are many miles of unnecessary lights that must cost a fortune. Reducing demand for electricity must be a worth while consideration, how about LED lights?
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I don't know why there is light on motorways. Everyone on there has light with them.
As for LEDs, should be compulsory, but on new and refurbishment. Don't change it if it is working.
Also, smart light with movement detector. Why light it if nobody is there. If they are within X metres then dim it on, once they are gone, dim it off.
 
All good ideas and all have been suggested
Turn off every other light
Fit dimmers
Fit motion sensors
The councils reply.....Too expensive, turn them all off.
They are however replacing failed lights with LEDs but that could take years
 
It costs a lot of money to clothe, feed and house all the immigrants that want to come here ;)
 
bobmac said:
All good ideas and all have been suggested
Turn off every other light
Fit dimmers
Fit motion sensors
The councils reply.....Too expensive, turn them all off.
They are however replacing failed lights with LEDs but that could take years
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I'm not aware of Councils turning them all off.
 
bobmac said:
All good ideas and all have been suggested
Turn off every other light
Fit dimmers
Fit motion sensors
The councils reply.....Too expensive, turn them all off.
They are however replacing failed lights with LEDs but that could take years
Click to expand...

bobmac said:
I didn't say that.



That means all the selected lights, not every other light as was suggested.

Anything for an argument though eh?
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:confused: Seems like it.
 
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