A CASH-STRAPPED council has not ruled out an increase in anti-social behaviour as it considers dimming streetlights in a bid to save £25,000.

The local authority is set to roll out a two-month trial in five areas in Slough to see what the impacts would be if it turned the lights down.

The five areas chosen for the trial are:

  • Rochfords Gardens and Goodman Park estates
  • Maplin Park
  • Colnbrook
  • Part of Cippenham Green
  • Northern part of Britwell

According to a report presented to a joint customer and community scrutiny panel, and place scrutiny panel, the lights are currently set at 75 per cent capacity but each column ‘can be adjusted separately’.

‘There may be the opportunity to reduce electricity further without undue detriment,’ the report added.

But the equality impact assessment, which outlines the negative impacts a proposal could have, lists an increase in crime and disorder, road traffic safety concerns, and perception of lack of safety as possible risks, particularly for the elderly, disabled people, and women and girls.

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It adds: “Residents walking the streets and through the parks after midnight and before sunrise may feel less safe with reduced lighting.”

Speaking at the meeting on Wednesday, February 1, Infrastructure lead Savio DeCruz said this will be a “data-led” trial with Thames Valley Police (TVP) to see if crime in specific locations will increase as a result of dimming the lights.

If data shows crime has increased, that area will be “revisited”. He also ruled out that park lights will be turned off or dimmed.

“There may be locations where lighting has to increase because of either crime or the surroundings of that particular location demand brighter lighting,” he added.

Cllr Wayne Strutton (Con: Haymill & Lynch Hill) said the council should reduce its own energy costs at its buildings, such as its headquarters Observatory House, before dimming street lights.

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He said: “We need to show that we are making the savings ourselves and that we have evidential factual proof of the savings that we are going to generate and that the safety will be maintained.”

Meanwhile, Cllr Paul Kelly (Con: Haymill & Lynch Hill) added the proposed £25,000 saving could be “completely overshadowed” by the number of outstanding repairs of broken streetlamps. He also questioned if TVP supported, objected, or have reservations about the proposal.

Mr DeCruz said they will “endeavour” to fix as many streetlamps as possible but are conscience that they have a “finite” budget.

He also said the council is in “early talks” with TVP and has not raised either an objection or support to the £25,000 cut.

The trial will run in February and March where a report on the findings will be brought to June’s cabinet for a final decision.