Meeting hears streetlight switch-off views as proposal deferred

It was noted when the proposal returned it wouldn’t be in anything like its current form

A number of speakers have addressed a meeting at Oxfordshire County Council on the issue of turning off Oxfordshire’s streetlights overnight.

The Deputy Leader of the Council, Dr Pete Sudbury, yesterday announced he would be deferring any decision but still invited speakers to comment.

The Leader of the Labour Group at County Hall, Councillor Liz Brighouse, was one of a number of people who raised the issue of safety for women.

She criticised how the proposal had been dealt with: “The way it came forward, the fact there’s been no consultation, the fact that the equalities statement the impact on women, girls and others was not considered – for all of those reasons there would have been a case of a judicial review.”

Councillor Sudbury apologised that the paper had been brought in its current form and said it was missing detail, such as the fact that different arrangements could be set up for areas noting specific local requirements.

A couple of those commenting were in favour of the principle which would enable people to have a far clearer view of the night skies.   Stephen Knight from Banbury told the meeting he was a member of the British Astronomical Association.   He felt people were seeing a huge downside but no upside and suggested the potential of short windows without streetlights in the middle of the night.

Me Knight added: “If people saw the dark skies and what they were missing there would be more pressure to increase the times of darkness.”

After hearing all the views Councillor Sudbury formally deferred the item and noted it would not come back in its current form – “or anything like it”.

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Published: 14/11/2024 04:32pm by Banbury FM Newsteam

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