Street lighting in East Sussex is changing… and the next in a series of events for you to make your views known is taking place in Rye.
The County Council is turning off some street lights, reducing the number of lights working in some residential streets and dimming lights on main roads across the county. These changes will only affect street lighting between midnight and the early hours.
Some existing lights will also be replaced with lower wattage, more energy efficient lights.
Councillor Carl Maynard, Lead Cabinet Member for Economy, Transport and Environment, said: “We know local people are likely to have comments, so we are holding these events so you can tell us your views. You will be able to see detailed maps of your area. We will also publish the plans on our website. If you have concerns about a specific street, we would like you to tell us what they are. We will consider your comments together with other information we have about the area before any final decisions are made.
“The pilot schemes in other areas have been well received by residents and businesses in the area, and the local police say there has been no increase in incidents reported to them. But we know each town or village will have different needs, so it is really important you come along, look at the proposals and talk through your concerns or issues with our staff.”
The next event is in Rye on Saturday 26 January. People who live, visit or work in Rye, are invited to come along and see the maps of street affected on display at Rye Library, between 9.30am and 12 noon.
People will also be able to find all the information and make comments online between 26 January and 15 February. Information and comment forms will also be available at Rye Library and the town council offices.
Further information
The County Council is making these changes in order to save the money spent on electricity for street lighting. The extent of the savings that need to be made over the next few years has been widely publicised, and the county council continues to look for ways of saving money as painlessly as possible. These changes will also help to reduce the council’s carbon emissions and protect the environment.
Each town or village will have different needs, so the County Council will design a plan for each area that is tailored to its needs. These changes will be rolled out on a town by town basis.