Plans discussed for pilot exercise to switch off street lights during early hours in Neath Port Talbot

Plans to turn off a number of street lights in Neath Port Talbot have been discussed, with proposals for a pilot exercise to look at the feasibility of switching off lights in certain places during the early hours.
The proposals are being looked at in order to save money on the increasing energy costs currently faced by the local authority, alongside other saving strategies such as dimming street lighting, which have already been approved.
It comes after a rise in energy prices in recent years which is expected to see the council’s street lighting energy budget of £1.18 million overspent by £150,000 this year.
The report read: “On March 24, 2024 the then cabinet board 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. This included a pilot exercise, details of which were required to be submitted for scrutiny and approval.
“Further to previously commissioned consultancy work it has been initially assessed that part-night lighting could include switching off up to around 14,000 lanterns during the small hours.”
It added that if the idea was approved by cabinet in the coming months, the pilot exercise would run for the month of November with the lights being switched off between 1am and 5am, and estimates that the part-night lighting could save around £180,000 annually for Neath Port Talbot Council.
The trial would then be taking place across seven areas in the borough, which the report said were chosen for the geographic spread throughout the authority.
Members also heard how consultation would be a part of the pilot exercise with the results of the trial being reported back to councillors before any future discussions were had. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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