Residents brand council a ‘joke’ as more street lights go out in Coventry

Areas of Binley have been affected by street light blackouts as Coventry City Council implements midnight lighting from May 2024. City roads such as Binley Road, Brindle Avenue, Weir Way, Brinklow Road and George Marston are among those affected. .

One local said the lights had been out for “weeks” and described the move as “appalling” and “disgusting”. It comes after residents in Tile Hill were also affected earlier this year, with a local business helping by providing torches for people to use as they leave or return to their homes.

In February, the council voted to turn off street lights in parts of the city from midnight to 5:30 a.m. on weeknights and between 1 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. on weekends to help with cuts and savings to avoid bankruptcy , saving £700,000 a year, which can be used to protect “other vital services”.

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A council spokesman said not “all roads” would be affected and lights on busier roads, controlled crossings and public footpaths would keep their lights on. They added that they had seen a “decrease in crime levels” in the UK with the switch to midnight lighting.

Many residents have expressed their views online about Binley’s street lights being switched off. Zoe Whittaker-Corcoran said: “The whole of Coventry is switched off now but we still pay for street lighting from our council tax.”

Keith Haworth said: “Great idea if council tax didn’t go up. So without street lighting and now paying for the brown bins, I think someone is taking us all for fools”. Pat Davies added: “They’ll keep turning off the lights at night but keep the fountain running in the middle of town, wasting electricity and water, a joke.”

Paul Moyni said: “I’m a night owl so I walk my dog ​​and occasionally travel on foot late at night. Finding the lights on and off in places almost worse in some places, my eyes can’t adjust to the dark before you get a spot of light and then you’re plunged back into pitch black.”

A council spokesman said: “Earlier this year we held a budget consultation on ways the council could save money and midnight street lighting was one of the proposals that was approved. Midnight Street Lighting sees the lights switched off between midnight and 5.30am on weeknights and between 1.00am and 5.30am at weekends.

“Not all roads will be affected by the change as the lights will remain on busier streets and junctions, at controlled crossings and on public footpaths/walkways away from roads. In total, approximately 70% of the lights will be turned off overnight. .

“We understand that people have safety concerns, but areas with high levels of crime or anti-social behavior will continue to use night-time lighting and Council officers will monitor and review any reports of road accidents or levels of crime in areas that use partial night lighting in the coming months to ensure people’s safety.

“However, most local authorities using the scheme across the country have reported reductions in crime levels after switching to partial lighting at night. Part lighting at night contributes to the city’s green agenda with around 412 tonnes of CO2 saved and is set to save the council around £700,000 a year, which we can use to help fund other vital services in the city.”

For more information about Coventry’s midnight street lighting, visit Coventry City Council’s website.

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