Oxfordshire streetlighting policy confirmed
Town and parish councils will be able to ask for streetlights to be switched off overnight - after consulting residents.
A decision has been made on Oxfordshire County Council’s streetlighting policy almost a year after the plans were first introduced.
Town and parish councils will now be able to apply to turn streetlights off during certain overnight hours, following resident consultation. In rural areas, lights can be switched off between 11.30pm and 5.30am, and in urban areas between midnight and 5.50am.
Large urban areas like Oxford, major road junctions, and remote alleyways are excluded from the policy, preventing lights from being turned off in those locations.
The original proposal was due to go before the council cabinet last November, but was delayed after concerns from politicians, Thames Valley Police, and campaigners about safety—especially for women and girls. A public consultation was held, with 50.4 per cent of respondents supporting the plan and 43.9 per cent opposing it.
The updated policy was approved at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday (21st October). Under the scheme, part-night lighting will only be considered on a case-by-case basis, with further consultations for each scheme and input from Thames Valley Police using crime and road safety data.
Oxfordshire County Council manages 60,000 streetlights and has already introduced measures such as energy-saving LED bulbs.