Pilot Scheme Approved to Switch Off Street Lights in Neath Port Talbot

A pilot scheme to test the feasibility of switching off street lights in certain areas in order to save money on energy costs has been approved by Neath Port Talbot Council.
The scheme that will see the switching off  133 street lanterns across seven locations during the small hours is being tested in order to complete a “satisfactory impact assessment” around the potential new cost saving measures.
The trial which is set for November of 2024 will take place across seven areas of Neath Port Talbot which were selected for a “geographic spread throughout the authority” and will be concentrated on urban and densely populated areas.
It comes after members of a scrutiny committee raised a number of concerns over the proposals earlier this year, with the results of the trial set to be reported back to councillors before any future discussions are had.
During the trial, lights will be turned off between 1 am and 5am in areas such as Sandfields, Cwmavon, and Skewen, and could eventually lead to the switching off up to around 14,000 lanterns during the small hours.
The report read: “It is estimated that part-night lighting alongside the dimming of other lights in certain areas has the potential to save up to around £180,000 annually for the local authority, which currently has a street lighting energy budget of £1.18M that is expected to overspend on this year.
“On March 22, 2024 the then Cabinet Board and Scrutiny discussed the implementation of energy saving strategies relating to additional dimming of lighting and part-night lighting. The extra dimming was approved but there were member concerns regarding the part-night lighting and it was acknowledged in the decision report that further work was needed to complete a satisfactory impact assessment in relation to such savings.”
Members in attendance at a Neath Port Talbot Council cabinet meeting held on September 11, agreed unanimously to approve the part night lighting pilot following scrutiny sessions held over the plans in recent months. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​