It's essential that as many people as possible respond along similar lines. If we don't we could be left in the dark!
Please note that the consultation exercise ends on 26 September 2013.
Cllr
Rob Crute & Cllr Lynn Pounder (Blackhalls Division)
Joint
response to Durham County Council’s street lighting consultation
4 September 2013
We submit these comments in response to Durham County
Council’s consultation on proposals to reduce street lighting as part of its
overall street lighting policy. Specifically we would like to comment on
proposals to switch off street lighting in those areas in which it is
considered safe to do so and on the potential impact on pedestrian safety if
such actions were adopted in this case.
As a result of cable theft last year there has been a
significant reduction in street lighting on the road connecting Blackhall
Colliery with Hesleden, along with the roads connecting Hesleden with High
Hesleden and High Hesleden with Monk Hesleden. Complaints we have received during
this time (which we have subsequently passed on to Brian Buckley and the
Highways section) reflect the high level of concern expressed by residents in
these areas.
Blackhall and Hesleden are two communities extremely
closely linked in geographical and social terms and all roads connecting the
two settlements are very well used on a regular basis by families and friends
visiting one another. Understandably residents are concerned about the safety
of pedestrians should streets remain unlit, especially during the long and dark
winter nights. As local councillors we share those concerns and are
particularly worried about the impact on public safety in these areas if street
lighting was to be reduced or switched off entirely.
It should be noted that both settlements have been hit
particularly hard recently by cuts to public bus services. Without a well-lit
and accessible road network they risk becoming isolated and insular, something
we consider entirely unacceptable.
In summary we do not think it is safe to switch off
street lights in this area. Further we are strongly of the opinion that public
safety will be severely compromised if any decision were to be made to leave
these roads in darkness.
For the reasons outlined above we urge Durham County
Council to reinstate street lighting in this area as a matter of urgency.