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Street Lighting Advice for Local Authorities
Introduction
This guidance is intended to help explain the legal position for Local Authorities regarding their responsibilities for the provision and maintenance of street lighting in the public domain. In addition, it will also discuss a number of the lighting strategies available to Local Authorities within the United Kingdom (UK).
The UK has 382 Local Authorities spread across four Countries. Although the Office of National Statistics does not record the official number of streetlights, the UK Roads Liaison Group collected data from 210 Councils across the UK. Their data set recorded 7,190,166 streetlights of various designs in their study. Government spending on street lighting in the UK was £1.07 billion in 2023/24, compared with £932 million in the previous financial year.
Street lighting is considered a public good, and as such individuals cannot be charged for or excluded from using it. Street lighting is seen by the public as a given and basic commodity that Local Authorities provide. Good quality street lighting offers cost savings to other services as the provision of lighting may reduce accidents.
In areas where street lighting hours have been reduced, strong local community feelings may be expressed. Street lighting at night can give residents in urban and suburban areas a sense of security. As such, the removal or reduction of this public good can be perceived negatively by local communities.
Any proposed changes to street lighting provision should be discussed with the emergency services and take into consideration any known hazards in the area.
There is plenty of evidence supporting claims that in well-lit areas hazard spotting and hazard perception increases and accident figures drop. There is less evidence to support claims that where street lighting is removed crime figures increase.
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