Find out more about street lighting scheme 
People who want to find out more about Gloucestershire County Council’s street lighting projects can go along to an open meeting this week. 
Gloucestershire County Council is pushing ahead with the street lighting project in 2011 with more open meetings arranged for residents to find out what we’re doing. 
Lesley Smith, one of the council’s street lighting team, will be speaking at an open consultation meeting hosted at Up Hatherley Village Hall in Cold Pool Lane between 7 – 8.30pm this Thursday (20th January 2011). 
She will be explaining all about the part night lighting schemes and the dimming project and inviting questions from members of the public and parish councillors. 
Lesley will also be collecting expressions of interest from parishes that want to get involved in the schemes. Everyone is welcome to attend. 
In February 2009, the council launched a scheme to turn off some street lights in rural areas and market towns between midnight and 5.30am. 
This was followed in April 2009 by a street light dimming scheme where high wattage bulbs were dimmed by 35% between 10pm and 5.30am. 
Both schemes have been extremely successful with £202,760 savings and a carbon reduction of 1,392 tonnes – enough to boil 90 million kettles. 
Lesley said: “So far the feedback we have had from parishes that have chosen to get involved in the schemes has been really positive. 
“The results speak for themselves, we know what we’re doing is making a real difference, both environmentally and financially. 
“Some people may be sceptical about lights being dimmed or switched off, but each scheme is bespoke and tailored to the needs of the parish and we wouldn’t do anything people weren’t happy with. 
“This is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to know more about the schemes to come along and have a chat with me.” 
In total 70 parish and town councils have already taken part in the night lighting project and we are in discussion with other parishes. 
So far 4,556 lights have been adapted for part night lighting with another 2,440 awaiting conversion. 
In addition 9,540 high wattage lamps have been converted to dim after peak traffic hours. 
Gloucestershire Police have commented on the proposals regarding safety for pedestrians and motorists and they have confirmed our schemes are safe. 
Gloucestershire’s scheme has being hailed as best practise by other councils across the UK with 24 local authorities asking for information on our projects. 
It has also been praised by the County Surveyors’ Society, which represents local authority chief officers and was shortlisted for a Guardian Public Sector Service awards.