On 22 Dec 2014 at 12:07pm Historian wrote:
At last the subject of street lighting has reach the ears of the Government, just before the entire country is plunged into darkness at midnight.
Apparently the local councils are supposed to know what we want, did they ask anyone ? Are there any plans to install more cost effective bulbs, movement sensors etc ?
On 22 Dec 2014 at 12:49pm Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
I have vague recollection that we got some sort of leaflet asking for our views up on the Nevill. It might have been issued via the residents' association.
I don't see what all the fuss is about tbh. In Lewes, it's only the residential roads that are dark between 12.30 and 5.30. I don't mind using a torch if I'm out late or leaving the house very early.
Seems silly having all those street lights on just in case someone stays out late. And it makes for lovely dark skies at night.
People in rural areas manage fine without street lighting at any time, and iirc the people of Ringmer didn't want to have streetlights installed.
There are plenty of things I'd put above street lighting during the night when it comes to prioritising local government spending.
On 22 Dec 2014 at 1:55pm Southover Queen wrote:
ESCC did one of their "public consultations" which involves putting a notice up in an alleyway for the minimum statutory period, maybe eighteen months ago. I think I only became aware of the proposal to turn all the lights off in this area because it was mentioned on the forum, in fact.
I submitted a comment along the lines that turning the lights off in Rotten Row and St Pancras Rd would be dangerous as these are major routes in and out of Southover and the pavements are in a terrible state. Luckily they reconsidered and there are now some strategic lights on all night.
So ESCC would probably say that they've already taken cost-cutting measures as far as street lighting goes. I can't believe that the sodium lighting round here costs much anyway...
On 22 Dec 2014 at 3:54pm A Dent wrote:
I can tell everyone one of the problems. If you live in a CPZ Zone and do late night work, or come home late, on a reasonably dark night, it is impossible to park in some streets, particularly narrow ones, without risking damage, as my own car testifies. If ESCC wants people to park in bays, we do need to be able to see them.
On 22 Dec 2014 at 6:16pm Southover Queen wrote:
I'm interested in why I've got seven thumbs down? Do people want to be plunged into darkness on streets where the pavement is so uneven that everyone walks in the road? If it's because you hate me personally, that's cool.
On 22 Dec 2014 at 6:45pm Belladonna wrote:
My only concern is those dark corners when walking home late at night, but no amount of street lighting puts off determined attackers
On 22 Dec 2014 at 7:23pm Southover Queen wrote:
I was talking to a copper a couple of years ago, who told me that the last street robbery (ie mugging) in Lewes was over ten years ago, so that's something I worry less about, Belladonna.
On 22 Dec 2014 at 8:11pm Peasant wrote:
Street lights are completely unnecessary, and a major cause of light pollution. We managed without them for decades in Ringmer, though there are a few on the main road now because one too many pensioners got run over. Leaving them on after midnight is a stupid waste of resources. You don't even need to carry a torch these days. Movement activated lights trip on and off as you make your way down the street. Bring back proper dark skies.
On 23 Dec 2014 at 12:26am Mavis wrote:
Turning the lights off is like putting a finger in the dyke, no pun intended. If those sodium bulbs are so cheap to run why turn them off ? It's a panacea to fool us into thinking the councils are cost conscious, letting them waste money on other schemes. No one has been run over on our estates by a speeding motorist, but that hasn't stopped them wasting money in turning them into 20 mph areas. County Hall should, by now, be half empty, is it ? I doubt it very much and if by chance it is it should be turned into flats, as most other landlords have done to empty properties. Then we would be really convinced that those councils were really saving money for us. They are just cutting services not their expenses which is what the government is trying to enforce, very ineffectively, I might add.
On 23 Dec 2014 at 12:26am Ed Can Do wrote:
I have terrible night vision to the extent I can barely see at all in low light and on the odd occasion I've been walking home past half midnight I've really struggled to see where I'm going. Wouldn't be such an issue if the pavements were in a decent state of repair but there are plenty of trip hazards around and I am really worried about going over in the dark. Sure I could carry a torch but I'm sure I'm not alone in going out early and not expecting to get home late and being unprepared for it. If I hit the deck I'll pick myself up and get on with it but it's only a matter of time before someone badly injures themselves in the dark and the resulting lawsuit costs more than any savings from turning the lights out. Surely energy saving LED lights or motion sensors would have been a better option?
On 23 Dec 2014 at 10:00am Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
I keep a small torch in my bag. It's about as long as a cigarette lighter and twice that in diameter, has LEDs and is incredibly bright. I think it was £4, from Homebase.
I really recommend them.
I got it because I was doing home visits in a rural area, where it was pitch black on winter afternoons, and it's proved so useful I carry it everywhere. Along with my Swiss Army penknife....
On 23 Dec 2014 at 3:04pm Badger wrote:
Ed, are you suggesting that the council should leave all street lights on all night (whether they be energy-saving or not) for the benefit of those people who have poor night vision, are forgetful and who are going to be out on the razz past 12am? I'd wager that's a ridiculously small minority of the population to be wasting our precious resources on.
Sometimes people have to take responsibility for their own niche requirements.
On 23 Dec 2014 at 10:09pm wrote:
On 26 Dec 2014 at 7:08pm Ed Can Do wrote:
Not really, I'm suggesting that there may have been alternatives to switching everything off such as led lights or motion sensors.
Anyway, are we now to the point where we only operate public services that benefit "average" people? Maybe people who live in villages should take responsibility for where they live and stop relying on a subsidised bus service? Parents should take responsibility for their kids' education and stop relying on state funded schools that everyone else has to pay for. Extreme examples obviously but it's a slippery slope.