The following text is taken from the Suffolk County Council website. Further information, including a map of lights in Eye and a number of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) can be found at www.suffolk.gov.uk/streetlighting and
Suffolk County Council is introducing intelligent street lighting in your area.
Contractors working on behalf of the county council have been seen installing an 'intelligent street lighting system' to control the street lights around Eye. The system which has been active since 25 July, will allow the council to switch off some street lights, dim some or leave them on remotely.
The lights will have fully adjustable settings, which means that settings can be altered for different days of the week, take account of British Summertime, or set street lights to stay on for longer e.g. for events or at Christmas.
All street lights owned by the county council that are six metres in height or below are to be switched off between the hours of midnight and 5:30am. The council will be using the following criteria to consider whether lights should be kept on for a longer period:
• Lights at major junctions/roundabouts
• In town centres with CCTV, high security businesses e.g. banks, areas of high night time pedestrian usage, for example near nightclubs and train stations, outside community facilities or leisure centres
• Areas where street lights are needed to reduce road accidents
• Areas where there could be an increase in crime through reduced lighting, e.g. pubs and specific residential areas.
• Remote alleys linking residential streets
• Near pedestrian crossings, footbridges, subways
• In public car parks
• At bus stops
• At level crossings, speed humps and traffic lights
• Where there is sheltered housing for the elderly
The decision about which street lights to keep on and which should be switched off has been made in consultation with local town and parish councils, Suffolk police and your local county councillor(s).
The county council is moving to this new system in order to save money, it is estimated that the council will save £550,000 a year in energy bills and to save carbon.
For more information, visit www.suffolk.gov.uk/streetlighting. You can also email streetlighting@suffolk.gov.uk or call 01473 264067/ 4915