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Eye Town Council, in partnership with Suffolk County Council, is undertaking a programme of work to improve the street lighting in Eye. We are seeking ways of reducing running and energy costs whilst maintaining a suitable service for the people of Eye. Our new maintenance contract with the County Council has already helped with this and we wish to move onto the next element. Having undertaken a complete review of all street lights, we have identified where we can put in new lower energy lanterns and will be installing intelligent lighting controls that will allow us to individually control each light. As part of the change we will be joining the County Council in switching off non-essential lights from midnight to 5 am. We wish to remove some of the street lights in Eye. Street lights are put up in towns to primarily provide lighting to pathways and in the centre of town where there are both pavements and facilities this is, of course, necessary. However, there are three areas within the Town’s boundaries where the Town Council believes lights are not needed. These are:a) Ludgate Causeway – proposing to remove all street lights apart from the one nearest the junction close to Abbey Bridge. b) Lowgate Street – proposing to remove all street lights towards Debenham after the one nearest King’s Bridge.c) Elizabeth Court, Elizabeth Way – proposing to remove the lights within the complex between the Warden’s house and Oak Crescent – those along the road would remain it is just the ones between the houses where they appear to only provide lights for individual houses. The Council is also likely to remove the occasional isolated lights where they do not seem to be needed, e.g.d) The one street light at the end of the road at Maple Way (opposite No. 2) where the road spur was left in case any further houses were built: that currently mainly lights a dead end. e) The one street light in Magdalen Court (nearest No. 9) where it is partly obscured by trees anyway. Before confirming these works the Town Council wished to give the opportunity for residents closely affected to report back any critical information that might influence the Council’s decision. The natural reaction may be to think all street lights are vital but research is consistently showing that there is not an increase in accidents or thefts when marginal lights are removed – indeed, evidence suggests that street lights often increase crime through providing useful light for the entry and escape of burglars. The Council has discussed the matter with Suffolk County Council’s Officers and considered the proposals carefully. We believe that there will be savings in maintenance and repair, insurance and running costs and this will allow hard pressed money to be better spent for the benefit of all residents. If you wish to make a case for alternative action, please provide this in writing to the Town Clerk before Tuesday 9October 2012. The Environment Committee will review any comments received to help inform the report to the Town Council at the 17 October meeting.