40,000 street lights to be turned off in Derbyshire

Over 800 people responded to a public consultation to turn off the lights between midnight and 5.30 in the morning and 69% in favour.

There are also plans to switch off another 900 lights permanently.

Derbyshire County Council say the measures would:

• Save 2,000 tonnes of carbon every year - more than 10% of the total produced by county council street lights.
• Save more than 400,00 a year on energy bills - last year the council spent spent around £5.5 million on lighting and maintaining street lights with £2.7 million being spent on electricity.
• Avoid charges of up to £220,000 per year from the Governmnet for carbon emissions.

If the proposals are approved, the scheme would be rolled out across the county on an area by area basis over the next three or four year period and residetns would be to comment about the particular plans for their area.