The people of Caerffili County Borough will be consulted in the new year by the Plaid-led administration on four alternatives for turning off street lights and cutting carbon emissions.
Councillor Colin Mann, Plaid Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, said: “Street lighting accounts for 27 per cent of all carbon emissions by the council.
“We need to look at the turning off of lighting both on financial grounds but also on environmental grounds as we strive to reduce the authority’s carbon footprint.
“Four options have been drawn up and the Plaid-led council is asking the residents of the county borough to let us have their views. For instance, does it make sense to have street lights on between midnight and 5.30pm along main roads connecting our towns and villages and industrial estates when very few vehicles are on the road?
“We have to look at all areas of spending in the current climate and tackling the issue of street lighting will also reduce our carbon footprint. This is an area all local authorities across Wales are having to look at.”
The options for switching off streetlights are:
1) Between 12 midnight and 5.30 am on all main roads connecting towns and villages including industrial areas.
Green rating * (Carbon saving 850 tonnes)
2) Permanently along all main roads connecting towns and villages including industrial areas.
Green rating * * (Carbon saving 1700 tonnes)
3) Between 12 midnight and 5.30 a.m everywhere except junctions.
Green rating * * * (Carbon saving 3400 tonnes)
4) Between 12 midnight and 5.30 a.m in residential areas and permanently on all main roads connecting towns and villages including industrial areas.
Green rating * * * * (Carbon saving 4300 tonnes)
The public will be consulted through voting leaflets, a survey of the 1,300 members of the authority’s Viewpoint Panel, through the council’s website at www.caerphilly.gov.uk and at special ‘touch screen’ voting points at Penallta House council offices, Pontllanfraith House council offices, Rhymney Library and Risca Library.
Councillor Mann said that next year’s budget would be another difficult one given the 2.25 per cent increase in funding from the Welsh Assembly Government.
“The council tax rise in the current year at 2.35 per cent was the lowest in Wales. Plaid will do its level best to keep an increase down to the minimum because we are well aware of the economic situation and people’s difficult financial circumstances.”
Councillor Mann said that every job vacancy had to go to the corporate management team to decide whether the role was necessary and that would continue.
“We are doing everything we can to avoid a position where there is compulsory redundancies which is very much a last resort.
“Our aims remain to protect the key frontline services such as social services, education and refuse collections and a report from the budget advisory group will be going to a council scrutiny committee in the new year.
“ What is hugely disappointing is that the Labour group has dug its head into the sand is not participating in the process for the good of the people. That really speaks volumes for their attitude,” added Councillor Mann.
