Oxfordshire residents encouraged to submit views on plans to reduce streetlighting
The consultation for part-night lighting closes tomorrow
Residents across Oxfordshire are being asked to have their say on how to implement proposals to reduce streetlighting in parts of the county.
Oxfordshire County Council is holding a consultation to on how the ‘part-night lighting’ (PNL) plans should work, which closes 6 July.
The County Council say the consultation will focus on ‘how, not where, part-night lighting might be implemented’.
Adding that, ‘locations would be a matter for communities themselves to decide and would then be subject to a further local consultation’.
Previous proposals, known as ‘dark skies’, were deferred in November 2024 after concerns were raised, including worries around crime.
Now, with the new plans the Council aim to give communities the choice to introduce PNL in their area only if they want it.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, Cllr Andrew Gant Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “We want you to tell us if it's something that you would like to do.”
He added: “Work with us on the exact locations, timings and things of that kind, because these schemes are very dependent on the location, the specific layout of roads, exactly where people walk and where - and that's what we want to do, to engage with communities on the best way to do this.
Speaking about previous concerns to crime with a similar scheme, Cllr Gant said: “What we need to do is to look at the evidence.
“I'm not prejudging any particular case here, but it is the case that in some instances, crime actually goes down when lights are switched off, because criminals like everybody else, need to see.”
People can take part in the consultation on the council’s Let’s Talk Oxfordshire website.
Applications would have to be requested by the town or parish council and supported by the ward county councillor.
New proposals are expected to be presented for a decision by the council’s cabinet in September.