Have your say on Exeter's streetlight plans

Devon County Council is seeking opinions from residents of Exeter on proposals for part-night street lighting in residential areas.

The Council has already sought views of local councillors and Police before seeking the views of the wider community.

Information on the proposals is available online and at several exhibitions which open around Exeter today (23 September) where feedback can also be given.

There will also be four public meetings where residents can talk directly to the officers involved with the plan.

The reduction in street lighting is part of an on-going programme to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions and will see some street lights in residential areas switched off between 00:30 and 5:30.

Lighting on main roads, areas with high night-time activity and walking routes home will remain lit through the night.

The council currently operates 77,000 streetlights across the county, which currently costs £2.2 million a year and produces 20,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Since January 2010, Devon has converted over 35,000 streetlights to part night lighting saving approximately £1.2 million from the Council’s electricity bill.

Part night lighting is part of a wider package of carbon saving measures, which also includes night dimming and the use of low energy equipment and LED technology where appropriate

The entire consultation will take six weeks from today (23 September) until Sunday 3 November.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said:“This consultation is an important opportunity for people to have their say, and tell us their views.

“There has been lots of interest in these proposals, and naturally people have a lot of questions, so I would encourage residents to make every effort to come along to one of the public meetings or exhibitions taking place across the city and get involved in the process by providing us with your feedback. We particularly want to hear from people who think that they could be negatively impacted by the proposals to understand what measures may need to be put in place to address any concerns.

“This scheme is progressing well in other parts of Devon, and we have made excellent savings in terms of cost and carbon emissions. We are keen to achieve the same results in Exeter, but we appreciate that plans for the city need careful consideration.

“For example, busy areas of the city centre and main roads will remain lit all night and we are also aiming to develop a network of busy “walking home routes” which will remain lit all night.

“We have worked hard to engage with key stakeholders such as local councillors, Police and the Students’ Guild, at the earliest possible opportunity while plans were being drawn up, and their views have given us a solid starting point on which to consult further, so that we can produce a scheme in which we will all have been able to play a part.”

The entire consultation will take six weeks from today (23 September) concluding on Sunday 3 Novemeber.

The public meetings will enable local people to hear about the proposals and speak directly to officers. These will be held between 5pm and 8pm on:

3 October, at Methodist Hall, Burnthouse Lane, Exeter, EX2 6NG (across road from Wonford Community Centre).
8 October, at Whipton Community Hall. Pinhoe Road, Exeter, EX4 8AD.
10 October, at West Exe College, (6:30pm - 8:30pm)
14 October, at Stoke Hill Junior School. Stoke Hill, Exeter. EX4 7DP
16 October, at St Thomas Community Centre – Church Road, Exeter, EX2 9AX

Public exhibitions will also be held, enabling residents to see the proposals and provide feedback. These will be held between 23 September and 3 November, at:

Exwick Community Centre. Kinnerton Way, Exeter, EX4 2PR, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 10am to 12pm; on Tuesdays from 7pm to 9pm; and on Thursdays from 5pm to 8:30pm (tbc).
Heavitree Social Club. Wingfield Park, 2 East Wonford Hill, Exeter, EX1 3BS, from 29 September to 1 October, from 5pm until closing time; and then on the 6, 8, 13, 21, 22, 27 and 29 October, again from 5pm until closing time
Isca Centre. Summer Lane, Exeter, EX4 8NT.
Central Library. Castle Street, Exeter, EX4 3PQ.
Topsham Library. Nelson Close, Topsham, Exeter, EX3 0DX.
County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter. EX2 4QD.

Residents can also submit their views online, via a dedicated website about the part-night streetlight scheme Here.