A number of parishes in Exmoor are set to have their street lighting reduced, as the council's plans to cut costs, reduce energy mission and reduce light pollution in the area are under way in a new trial.
A total of seven parishes will be affected by the trial, with some street lamps being turned off between the hours of midnight and 5.30am. This may prove detrimental to some residents as similar plans to switch off street lighting have been implemented up and down the country in places such as Yorkshire, Wiltshire and Watford town, who have recently campaigned to turn the lights back on.
Streetlights will be dimmed as Somerset County Council pledge to save £123,000 in energy costs and £8,300 in carbon tax payments, during the three year trial, that will cost more than £750,000 to implement.
Exford, Exton, Brushfield, Monksilver, Winsford, Dulverton and Brompton Regis will all see the change. The council says that following any anti-social behaviour, crime or traffic incidents, the lights will be reverted back to their normal luminosity.
The bill will partly be footed by the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership, who are funding £500,000 towards the scheme. Another £75,000 will come from the government, but the remaining £200,000 will come from the taxpayer and the council's lighting budget.
In November 2011 Exmoor National Park was granted International Dark Sky Reserve status and was the first place in Europe to be established as such. The scheme will theoretically improve the vision of the night sky above the park.
The big switch off will begin early 2013.
