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 Stone Cross and Westham this Saturday.

The County Council is turning off some street lights between 12.30am and 5.30am approximately, reducing by 50% the number of street lights operating between 12.30am and 5.30am approximately in some larger residential roads; 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 seem to 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. 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 St Lukes Parish Centre, Stone Cross on Saturday 10 November. People who live, visit or work in Stone Cross and Westham, are invited to come along and see the maps of streets affected on display at the St Luke’s Parish Centre on 10 November between 9am – 12pm.

People will also be able to find all the information and make comments online between 10 November and 26 November – please see our current consultations section.

Information and comment forms will also be available at Westham Parish Council Offices and Pevensey Library.

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.

It came to our attention in late October that lighting sensors which had been fitted in part-night lighting in Seaford, Newhaven, Peacehaven and Telscombe don’t have a day-light saving setting. Before the clocks went back this year, they were switching off an hour later at 1:30am and back on an hour later at 6:30am approximately. As of 28 October, when the clocks went back, they are switching off at 12:30am and on at 5:30am approximately as expected. A relatively small number of people have contacted us about this and where there have been concerns we’ve already replaced lights with ones that include day-light saving.

We are working with our street lighting contractor, Colas, to put this right from now on – and residents can be assured there will be no cost to the tax payer.

The problem affects around 3,300 sensors. East Sussex County Council maintains 45,000 street lights.