CIVIL servants are considering shutting off every street light in Northern Ireland for three months next year to save money.
The proposal appeared in a new publication from the Department for Infrastructure, which stated the Secretary of State’s allocated budget of £523.4m fell far short of the requirement of £691m.
This “extremely difficult financial position” means the Department is now considering switching off the “entire street lighting network,” to save on rising energy costs.
Switching off the entire network will cost around £1.4m and take around six weeks to complete, depending on the availability of external contractors.
The same cost of £1.4m will be required to switch the network back on.
The earliest this could be introduced is the end of December 2023, allowing actual savings of £3.1m after the cost of implementing the switch off is deducted.
“A complete switch off of all street lights is the only option which will allow the Department to significantly reduce its energy payments during the current year,” the publication read.
“Any other mitigating options, such as part-night switch off are not feasible due to the requirement to negotiate new energy tariffs.”
Noting the likely public opposition and drawbacks, the department continued: "It will also lead to an increase in the fear of crime, which may deter people from travelling or socialising after dark, with a knock-on impact on commercial businesses.”
The proposal went to state that “road safety will be compromised,” including pedestrians feeling less safe and not see tripping hazards.
Wheeled road users may also struggle to see obstructions on the road , but it was “expected that drivers would make good judgement in regards to use of their car lights.”
