Street lights still at risk

The plans to turn off Exeter street lights at night will be subject to public consultation in May 2013.

The University’s Student Guild have been appealing for the proposed changes to street lighting not to go ahead in residential areas in the city.

The Guild spoke out at the recent meeting of the Exeter Board, telling the nine county councillors and five city councillors of the huge opposition to the changes that will have a massive impact upon the student community.

Grace Hopper, the guild’s vice-president for welfare and community, told the Echo: “From the moment we heard about the council’s plans to switch off Exeter’s streetlights at night, we knew that there would be great opposition. And there has been: the Save Our Streetlights (SOS) campaign’s petition against the switch off has so far collected over 2,500 signatures from both students, staff, and local residents’ associations.”

“The campaign has already attracted the support of local bars, nightclubs, landlords, as well as the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and MP Ben Bradshaw.”

Cllr Andrew Leadbetter, chair of the Board and of Exeter and Devon’s joint highways committee, told the meeting that the plans would not go through without proper consultation.

A spokesman for the council said: “While part-night lighting is being introduced in residential areas across Exeter, lighting in areas of high night-time activity, such as the city centre, main roads and main walking routes will keep their street lights on. We will want people’s opinions on which streets or areas they feel should be left on.”

With street lights coming on whilst it’s still light, it seems the whole topic is a complete mess that needs addressing. Write or email our local MP, Ben Bradshaw, and sign the Guild’s Save our Street Lights petition to ensure student safety isn’t compromised.