LETTER: Don’t turn off streetlights…just turn to LED

With regards to the decision to turn off the streetlights between midnight and 6am, I was under the impression that this would not affect areas with a significant record of crime in the area, so it is shocking to find that the Wygate estates, which have been targeted again and again for burglaries, are plunged into darkness in the small hours.

I may be a little biased, as I have previously been burgled (which led to me installing a CCTV system for protection), but I still like to think I can be logical about the current situation.

What I find most distasteful is the short sightedness of the council on their “money saving” exercise. Why not, instead of turning off the wasteful 400W discharge lighting, replace them with energy efficient 60W LED lights (even I can buy these for under £80 each inc. VAT from Ledkia Lighting, and I’m not buying in bulk!). It doesn’t take a mathematician to work out that the electricity used by the older style lighting running for eight hours would run a LED replacement for well over 50 hours continuously!

With those sorts of figures, replacement lamps would, no doubt, pay for themselves in a matter of months, if not weeks.

Whilst I am an advocate of energy efficiency (I have solar panels, solar lighting around the exterior of the house etc.) I find it hard to believe that there is justification for not updating the system when it is clearly cost effective in the long term, and does not compromise on road safety or security for residents.

Disclaimer: I do not work for or support Ledkia – I used this only as an example that Google gave after a quick search for LED street lighting.

Andrew Canham
Claudette Avenue
Spalding