Norfolk street lights to be switched off to save money

Norfolk County Council cabinet members agreed to the measure this week, which will plunge 33 roads into darkness.

This amounts to just 2pc of the 54,000 street lights the Conservative-controlled council manages in order to save £200,000 a year at a time when it is facing higher energy bills.

It would also cut carbon emissions by an annual 76 tonnes.

The savings measure is one of several agreed this week, which also include shutting recycling centres on Wednesdays and cutting income support for disabled people. 

The move follows a public consultation which revealed a number of people were concerned about the effect this will have, worrying crime rates could increase and drivers may be at greater risk of harm.

One respondent highlighted women in particular may feel less safe due to the changes.

People worry turning street lights off will make people feel less safe (Image: Archant © 2010)

They said: "This will result in women not feeling safe out of doors at night. This means women will not have equal access to public space as men often don't have these fears.

"I am particularly worried about this as I am partially deaf and can't always hear hazards. I rely on light."

Others worried the lack of light may also result in people being at higher risk of tripping and falling.

READ MORE: Councillors come under attack from public gallery during stormy meeting

Norfolk County Council says its power bills have risen (Image: David Hill)

The roads which will see lights switched off are located across Norfolk and include sections of some major A roads, such as the A10 in Tottenhill and the A146 in Loddon.

Officials say the areas have been picked to have minimal impact on drivers, pedestrians and cyclists and that police and emergency services will be consulted to ensure changes will not increase crime.

The A140 between Tasburgh and Newton Flotman (Image: Newsquest)

WHERE WILL LIGHTS BE SWITCHED OFF?

The streets are:

Bacton: B1159 Walcott Road, between Mill Lane and St Helens Road

Bawsey: Lynn Road / Gayton Road, between Mintlyn Wood Road and just east of Chilver House Lane

Caister and Great Yarmouth North: Caister Road / Yarmouth Road, between Caister Bypass/ Yarmouth Road Roundabout and Fremantle Road

Caistor St Edmund: A140 Ipswich Road, between Harford Bridge Roundabout and Mangreen Hall Lane 

The A148 in Cromer, south of Stonehill Way, where street lights will be turned off (Image: Google)

Cromer: A148 Holt Road, from Stonehill Way to 150m south-west of Stonehill Way, also Overstrand Road, from Northrepps Road junction to 170m east of Northrepps Road

Dereham: Shipdham Road, between Herne Lane and Nidus Gardens 

Dersingham: Lynn Road, on the southern approach to Dersingham

Beaufort Way in Bradwell (Image: Google)

Great Yarmouth South/Bradwell: Beaufort Way, between Hodds Lane roundabout and Wiltshire Drive roundabout

Heacham: A149 Lynn Road, between Lamsey Lane and Broadway

Hunstanton: Church Road/Waterworks Road, between A149 and Smugglers Close and between A149 and Chapel Bank

King’s Lynn: Edward Benefer Way, between Hamburg Way and Estuary Road

Edward Benefer Way in King's Lynn (Image: Newsquest)

Loddon: A146 Loddon Bypass at the junction with Beccles Road

Newton Flotman/Tasburgh: A140 Ipswich Road / Norwich Road, between Newton Flotman and north of Hempnall Road roundabout

North Walsham: North Walsham Bypass, between Little London Road and Folgate Road. Also Cromer Road, on the western approach up to Greens Road

Ormesby: Scratby Road, between Yarmouth Road Roundabout and 230m north-west of Station Road/California Road Junction, also in Station Road, from Scratby Road junction. And, also in Station Road, at the junction with Scratby Road

Peachman Way in Postwick will see street lights switched off (Image: Google)

Postwick: Peachman Way, between Broadland Way Roundabout and Cranley Road Roundabout 

Spooner Row/Suton, Wymondham: London Road, between Station Road and Eleven Mile Lane

Stalham: Yarmouth Road (A149), from Lower Staithe Road to the last street light beyond The Staithe

Thorpe: Plumstead Road East, between South Hill Road and Green Lane North

Thorpe St Andrew: Dussindale Drive, between Fiennes Road and Plumstead Road East

Thurton: Norwich Road, between the Avenues and Vale Road and on Norwich Road approaching from Norwich

The A10 between Hardwick Roundabout and Wormegay will have street lights switched off (Image: Google)

Tottenhill/Wormegay: A10, between Hardwick Roundabout and A134 roundabout

Trowse: Kirby Road, between A146 Loddon Road and The Drive 

Walsoken: Lynn Road, between Old Lynn Road junction and Lynn Road Roundabout

Watton: Norwich Road, from Hendon Avenue to Summer Lane

West Runton: A149 from Boulevard Road to Rosebery Road

Wymondham: London Road, from the new roundabout to just past Morley Lane