Residents of Powys injured due to street light switch-off
The council of Powys, Wales wanted to save money and reduce CO2 emissions - therefore, they decided to switch off two thirds of its street lights. However, this move has led to a number of unfortunate incidents involving residents injuring themselves in the dark streets throughout Powys.
Some elderly residents said they had fallen and injured themselves in the dark and hundreds of others complained that they feel like prisoners in their own homes. One resident suffered a black eye, facial bruising and injured her knee when she fell outside her home, after six street lights were turned off in the residential area.
Some areas are left open to vandalism and theft, after three cars were stolen on the actual night of the switch-off in the autumn of 2008.
Regarding traffic safety, the conditions have also worsened. One of the councillors explains that a light was turned off above a pedestrian crossing where children were waiting to cross but drivers couldn’t see them. “I stopped my car so that I could signal and warn other approaching motorists,” John Brautigam comments.
The news are alarming, and one wonders if the council of Powys has been considering dimming solutions as an alternative to switching off two thirds of the street lights. Dimming can generate savings of about 25 percent, which is already documented previously on this blog.
May 13th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Your information is as dim as some Powys lights. The city of Powys does not exist, it is a massive county covering a quarter of Wales, where the crime rate is the lowest in England and Wales and actually fell during the street light initiative. If you are going to preach to the masses at least do some basic research and then you might make a difference. Good ideas are spoilt by poor arguments and inadequate information, posted months after the event - you score badly on all fronts.