Changes to lighting need to be made

As ever, it is the vocal minority of dissenting voices that have filled the newspaper columns, and I just hope that the county council does not bow to pressure from the minority. I know many residents are in support of the new approach and recognise the need for it, and I suspect the vast majority of residents are not in the slightest bit affected.

The cost and environmental impact of the provision of street lighting from 12.30am-6.30am is significant and this has to be weighed up against the very small proportion of the local population who actually benefit from this. I do sympathise with taxi drivers following the recent accidents, however, the rest of the complaints are from those who just do not like change.

This exercise and debate goes beyond the cost-cutting exercise in the way it is being reported - it is recognising that as we face environmental challenges we will have to be prepared to do without services/products we previously took for granted and in my view I don’t see a huge benefit in lighting up towns in the dead of nights - I know many see the benefits of being able to see the night sky again and to remove the constant night time glow over cities and towns. Many rural communities have managed without street lighting for years, and I think in time Warwick and Leamington residents will accept the change and make the necessary behavioural changes (e.g use reflective clothing/torches).

We will all have to make behavioural changes due to unsustainable levels of living practices and standards, and I believe that this is again one of those examples where residents are used to this level of service and therefore question why should it be removed.

It is simply because we cannot continue to live with such a carefree attitude to resources and their impacts on the environment - energy supplies are no longer in abundance, and if we don’t make these changes now the necessary changes for future generations will be much greater. - Dominic Harrison, Warwick