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130813 Urgent item Appendix A Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is street lighting being switched off?
Approximately 3100 street lights have been identified where lighting is considered unnecessary. If these schemes were being designed today these lights would not be installed. Switching off these lights will save taxpayers around �150,000 and reduce our carbon emission by about 1000 tonnes every year.

We plan to switch these lights off for a trial period of 12 months. Crime level and road safety will be monitored throughout the trial period and lighting columns on any sites being adversely affected will be switched back on. Lighting columns on unaffected sites will be reviewed at the end of the trial period to determine whether further action needs to be taken.

What is part-night lighting?
Part-night lighting is the term we use for a light that switches off for part of the night. The affected lights will switch on at dusk (as usual) but switch off between midnight and 5.30am. This means that they will be off between 1am and 6.30am during British Summer Time. During Summer it is likely to be full daylight before 6am, therefore the lighting would not switch back on in the morning. This is called part-night lighting.

What savings are being made?
Up to �1 million pounds per year will be saved, the carbon emission savings will be around 5000 tonnes a year.

What are the costs of the works required?
We estimate the work will cost about �4.2 million pounds. This means the costs will be recovered within five years.

What other benefits are there?
As well as making savings we will reduce our CO2 emissions by around 5000 tonnes. The annual carbon emissions for street lighting energy in Kent totals around 29,000 tonnes. These emissions savings will help us to meet both the national and local emissions reduction targets. As well as the money and carbon savings, light pollution will be significantly reduced, allowing for a better environment and viewing of the night sky.

Will all lights be affected?
No. Approximately 3100 lights will switched off on a trial basis and a further 70,000 of the 120,000 lights will have part-night lighting. We will not be removing or operating part-night lighting in the following places:

� sites of potential road safety concerns

� on some main traffic routes

� in town centres

� locations with a significant night-time traffic record between 12.00 midnight and 5.30am

� areas identified by the olice as having an above average record of crime

� areas provided with local authority or police CCTV surveillance equipment

� areas with sheltered housing and other residences accommodating vulnerable people

� areas with a 24hour operational emergency services site including hospitals and aursing homes

� formal pedestrian crossings, subways and enclosed footpaths and alleyways where one end links to a road that is lit all night

� where road safety measures are on place in the highway such as roundabouts, central carriageways islands, chicanes, speed humps and so on

� street lighting that is owned by district, town and parish council�s. It is understood that many of these may also implement their own measures in conjunction with the County Council�s proposals.

How many lights will be affected?
It is difficult to say exactly how many lights will be operated on a part-night basis until we have carried out assessments. However, we are looking at operating approximately 60% of KCC-owned lights on a part-night basis throughout Kent - about 70,000 lights.

Can the council legally turn off the lights?
Yes. There is no statutory requirement on local authorities in the UK to light the highway. The law states that:

� the Highways Act empowers local authorities to light roads but does not place a duty to do so

� the council has a duty of care to road users and has an obligation to light permanent obstructions on the highway, such as speed humps and central refuges.

Will any lighting be switched back on?
We will work with the police to monitor traffic accidents and crime levels. If there is a significant increase, which could be put down to the part-night lighting, the area will be reviewed and lights may be turned back to all-night.

Have lights been switched off in other parts of the country?
Yes. Part-night lighting has been introduced in Buckinghamshire, Devon, Dorset, Essex, Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Powys and Oxfordshire. There are many other councils who are now implementing or considering part-night lighting.

I live in a rural village will my light be affected?
Only lighting owned and maintained by us will be affected. Some villages and small towns own and maintain the lighting. It is understood that many of these may also implement their own measures in conjunction with the our proposals.

Will 30mph speed limits be affected if lights are switched off?
No. A 30mph speed limit automatically applies in any road containing a system of street lights not more than 200 yards apart, unless signposted with a different speed limit. There is currently no law stating that these lights have to be switched on all night for the speed limit to be applicable. Therefore motorists are advised that the usual 30mph speed limit will be in place regardless of whether the lights are switched on or not.

Can�t you just dim lights instead of switching them off?
Not all types of light can be dimmed and those that could be dimmed require additional equipment which is very expensive to buy and fit meaning savings take many years to achieve. In future we will be looking at dimming new installations where the necessary dimming equipment is installed by the manufacturer at the factory, which reduces the cost.

Why can�t you switch off every other light?
The design of street lighting does not allow switching off every other light as they are generally installed in a circuit where all lamps on that circuit are either on or off.

Can�t you just fit lower power bulbs?
No. The lamps are controlled by specific gear within the lantern. To change the lamp to a lower energy type would require replacing the control gear, which would not be cost effective. Where we are replacing or upgrading the lighting in an area we do always look at using lower energy equipment but this will still be operated on a part night basis to achieve the required savings.

Can I choose the times the light outside my house operates?
No. All lighting will be treated the same throughout Kent and following the consultation affected lights may be switched off between midnight and 5.30am.