Dear Sir,
This is the first time I have felt so incensed about a change, which has to the best of my knowledge, just been arbitrarily thrust upon the communities within Newton Aycliffe and possibly, following the reading of the latest issue of the Newton News, the whole of County Durham, with little or no public consultation.
I am referring to the very recent introduction of new street lighting. Due to the continuing need for the Council to find further savings in their budget, which I completely appreciate is a serious challenge, I stand aghast that they then go out and commence a programme of replacing a large proportion of the street lighting in residential areas.
Surely the cost of this upon the budget must be huge. Not only have they undertaken this significant change but they seem to have failed to consult with the community. Well Durham County Council please sit up and listen to us and suspend the roll out of your programme of replacement of street lighting until have undertaken the following:
1. Consulted with your local communities 2. Undertaken an evaluation of the impact of these changes on issues such as road safety and the impact on potential increase in crime such as ASB and burglary.
I for one now feel deeply concerned about feeling safe when I return to my home after work, this is now more noticeable after the clocks changed last week. I am also concerned about road safety, particularly as the roads on most estates have dual usage as footpaths and I am sure that before much longer there will be a serious accident as it is significantly darker in all residential areas where this lighting has been installed.
I have read the Council’s initial response to the complaints and concerns already raised and this is what has been the final straw for me.
Stop hiding behind technical statistics about LED lighting the benefits of ‘white light’ and reducing carbon emissions. Get out from behind your desks and computers when it is dark outside and see for yourselves how poor the lighting has become. Talk to your communities (talking is cheap) and stop this roll out before it is too late.
Denise Curtis-Haigh
Karles Close
