"Big switch off" protests have fallen on deaf ears...

[dutchman]

Nuneaton and Bedworth will be plunged into darkness, despite growing anger across the borough.



County councillor Peter Butlin confirmed to a packed public meeting that street lights are to be switched off between midnight and 5.30am.

The cabinet member for transport and highways at Shire Hall said the controversial ‘big switch off’ will happen no matter what people say.

Cllr Butlin insisted that the only issue for consultation was whether 75 per cent or 80 per cent of the lights would be switched off.

Anger spilled to the surface during the meeting at Bedworth Methodist Church to which Cllr Butlin had been invited to explain the county council’s controversial switch off plans to save money.

Bedworth county councillor Richard Chattaway, who chaired the meeting, said: “People were upset at the dismissive way Cllr Butlin dealt with their views and the meeting might have turned ugly if I had not been firm.

“People raised concerns about increased crime and accidents on darkened streets.

“Although I was grateful to Cllr Butlin for coming to explain the policy of the controlling Conservative group, it is fair to say that the public, with the exception of a few Tory Party activists, was strongly against switching the lights out, but Cllr Butlin said he planned to go ahead anyway.”

Cllr Julie Jackson was worried about the affects it would have on shift workers on the Bayton Road Industrial Estate.

Cllr Ian Lloyd said both of his daughters work shifts and would come home in the dark and Lynne Price from Bedworth and Bulkington Neighbourhood Watch, also raised concerns about women returning home being more vulnerable on darkened streets.

Former Bedworth and North Warwickshire MP Mike O’Brien also raised fears about increased burglary and car crime.

After the meeting Cllr Butlin said: “I can assure residents that we would not allow their safety to be compromised and we are confident that the switch off, in designated areas from 12 midnight to 5.30am, will not have a detrimental affect on road safety or the wider community in terms of crime.

“We are not about to plunge the county into darkness, street lighting will remain in place at all major highway hotspots, such as roundabouts, traffic calming features, junctions with traffic signals, pedestrian crossings and A & E hospitals."