12 February 2008

CSS DEFENDS STREET LIGHT TRIALS

CSS has defended a series of trials designed to test the benefits of switching off and dimming street lights during part of the night.

The trials being undertaken by some local authorities have come under fire in the Daily Mail amidst fears that they will encourage crime and reduce road safety.

But CSS, which represents local authority strategic directors responsible for the environment, transport and energy, says that it is important to understand the pros and cons and to give local communities an opportunity to comment. It also stressed that the key issues involved were light pollution and carbon reduction rather than cost-saving.

Roger Elphick, Chair of the CSS Street Lighting Group and of the UK Lighting Board, said: “There is pressure on local authorities to reduce energy costs and balance that with road safety costs and crime reduction, but there are many other options available for reducing energy costs as well as turning off street lights. Lights can by dimmed or set so that they come on later and go off earlier or may be turned off in rural areas.

“One of the reasons for the current trials by a number of local authorities is to see what the impact is and what the public reaction is, so it’s not wrong to run these trials.”

Last year, the CSS initiated five street lighting research projects as a significant step in the development of guidance and best practice for the lighting industry and local authorities. The projects pull together a number of innovative strands on energy management and minimising the carbon footprint from local authority lighting. The results of the projects will be made available in the summer of this year. These are a follow-up to the Invest To Save guidance issued by the UK Lighting Board about 18 months ago.

Mr Elphick added: “These projects will help in assessing the benefits of various energy-saving initiatives and establishing appropriate lighting levels for different street types and locations.”

Alison Quant, CSS Vice-President and Director Environment at Hampshire County Council, added: “The Daily Mail article presents the switching-off of street lights at night as a cost-saving issue, whereas in practice part-night lighting and dimming are not likely to save money in the short-term because of higher capital costs, but could have quite big impacts on our carbon footprint and reduce light pollution.

“Street lighting accounts for a significant part of a council’s carbon footprint, and with the Climate Change Bill going through Parliament, the UK is signing up to reductions in our carbon footprint of at least 60 per cent by 2050. In addition, energy costs have been going up fast and are likely to continue to rise, placing an additional burden on council tax payers.

“Technology changes are making lights more energy-efficient and it is possible to control street lights in more sophisticated ways, so as street lights are replaced it makes sense to ask what levels of lighting we want in the future. To answer that question, a number of authorities are trialling dimming and part-night lighting to see what effect it has and what residents think about a different approach.

“Arguably, the best result would be achieved if all lights had the potential to be dimmed or switched off by timers, but the extra cost this would add to each street light will probably rule this possibility out unless enough energy cost savings can be guaranteed. Trials like this will help councils make that judgement.”

ends

Media contact  

Susan Tolman, Daybreak Communications office 0845 644 3845; mobile 07786 543430; susan.tolman@daybreakcomm.co.uk

Notes to editors

• CSS represents local authority chief officers who manage some of the most pressing issues facing the UK today. Membership is drawn from all four corners of the United Kingdom with members responsible for            three-quarters of the road network, two thirds of the land area and just under half of the population of England and Wales. Operating at the strategic tier of local government, they are closely involved in crucial transport, waste management, environment, planning, energy and economic development issues.

• The five projects, costing £180,000, are being substantially funded by CSS and are partnered by TfL (Transport for London), SCOTS (Society of Chief Officers in Transportation for Scotland), the ILE (Institution of Lighting Engineers), Transport Scotland and the HA (Highways Agency).  Major firms in the lighting industry will also be participating with practical support from a number of test laboratories.

• The five projects are:

• A Review of the Class and Quality of Street Lighting on Traffic Routes and Residential Streets.  To determine the most appropriate level of lighting for different situations, bearing in mind road safety, crime prevention, environmental and energy considerations.

• Guidance on Financial Returns from ‘Spend to Save’ Initiatives.  To assist local authorities in the preparation of bids for funding to improve the efficiency of lighting systems and reduce energy costs.

• A Review of Luminaire Maintenance Factors.  To ensure lighting systems are working as efficiently as possible and energy use is minimised.

• The Use of Passive Safety Lighting Columns on Local Roads & Consideration of HA TA 89/05.  To consider any modifications that may be required to the current Highways Agency guidance regarding the provision of passively safe lighting and sign installations to make it appropriate for local authority roads.
• A Review of the Requirements for Lighting of Signs and Bollards.  To consider whether recommendations can be made for less signs and bollards to be lit, particularly those on refuges that are currently difficult to maintain.