Reckless decision to switch off has been an ‘omnishambles’

Ever since the Tory-led county council first released plans to plunge Warwickshire’s towns and villages into darkness through its part night lighting scheme, there have been widespread concerns expressed by residents, local community-based organisations and safety groups.

Despite strong arguments against the switch-off being presented, including research to suggest that trials carried out in Australia, Germany and America saw fatal accidents treble, Conservative county councillors have ploughed on with the money saving initiative.

However, less than a month into the ‘venture’ in Warwick District and we have already seen one teenager lose his life in a fatal incident on the Kenilworth Road – with local taxi drivers citing the ‘big switch off’ as a potential cause due to reduced visibility on the roads.

After being criticised for the move, Warwickshire County Council has announced it will turn off lights from 1am to 6.30am as outlined in your article ‘Light changes made across Warwick district after public pressure’ (Courier, 28 December 2012), but it remains unclear if this is just for the festive season or for the foreseeable future.

Frankly, the county council’s reckless decision and its subsequent implementation in Warwick district have been quite an ‘omnishambles.’ Perhaps Warwickshire’s Conservative and Liberal Democrat county councillors’ New Year’s resolution should be to scrap this disastrous regime altogether? - Ben Wesson, Wasdale Close, Leamington.