Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Should Haringey Switch off the Street Lights?
A recent study by the London School of Hygeine and Tropical Medicine and UCL which analysed the effect of local authorities reducing spending on street lighting on crime and traffic accidents found no association with road traffic collisions or crime.
The recently published study analysed 14 years of street lighting data from 62 local authorities across England and Wales who had implemented a range of reduced street light strategies, including switching lights off permanently, reducing the number of hours that lamps are switched on at night, dimming lights, and replacing traditional orange lamps with energy efficient white light LED lamps. The study focussed only on residential streets.
Looking at the effect on road saftey, the study concluded that there is no evidence of an association between reduced street lighting and night-time traffic collisions across England and Wales.
In respect of the effects on crime, study co-author Professor Shane Johnson of UCL Security and Crime Science, said: "The study findings suggest that energy saving street lighting adaptations have not increased area level crime in the neighbourhoods studied. This is very encouraging but it is important to note that it does not mean that this will be the case under all conditions, and so changes to lighting should be managed carefully."
The most recently published Freedom of Information response on Haringey's street lighting costs, suggests that the borough has more than 16,000 street lights with an annual electricity spend in the region of £1 million.
The borough is in currently implementing a street lighting cost savings plan. A Council spokeman told Harringay Online: "We’re midway through a programme of upgrading all our street lighting to energy efficient dimmable lamps. Those that have already been upgraded are dimmed by 25% between midnight and 5am or 6am." Apparently the dimming shouldn’t really be noticeable since the new lights are better quality.
In 2013 neighbouring borough Enfield claimed that their lighting efficiency programme would produce savings of £8 million over 20 years.
According to Dr Phil Edwards of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, some people they spoke to during the course of the study welcomed the reduction in street lighting, reporting darker bedrooms and less disturbed sleep. Others welcomed the benefit to environment.
However, not everyone feels so postive about the cost saving measures. Even though there appears to be little impact on crime or traffic accidents, the fear of crime remains a factor. Launching the Suzy Lamplugh Trust's 'Shine a Light Campaign' last autumn, Rachel Griffin, Suzy Lamplugh Trust director, said,
It is essential that local councils take into consideration the needs of residents who now feel more susceptible to danger when out at night. Economic cut-backs must not take priority over the confidence of individuals to live their lives fully and safely.
So what should Haringey do. Should the borough dial the dimmer down or brighten things up?
Link:
Full study attached below and also at Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health - jech.bmj.com/content/early/2015/07/08/jech-2015-206012.full
Tags for Forum Posts: led lights, street lighting
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jech-2015-206012.full (1).pdf, 1.2 MB
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Thanks for that link, Maddy. It confirms my reservation about this apparently partial and incomplete study.
As you heard, the programme had a contribution from Dr Phil Edwards whose comments included the statement: "Our brief was to look at crime and casualties that are reported. So we didn't measure impacts on fear of crime". This was despite Dr Edwards also referring to the study speaking to around 500 people, some of whom said: "Look, I'm afraid to walk out in the streets at night".
To be fair he mentioned that opinion was divided with: "Other people are saying they love to be able to see the stars at night".
But it's not as though he and his colleagues were unaware of strong opinions that they may have got it wrong or partially wrong when it comes to fear of crime and people's reluctance to go out if street lighting is dimmed or turned off. To say that their "brief" didn't include what had clearly emerged as a significant factor as they carried out the fieldwork, so they left it out, wasn't the way I was taught research methods.
Nor are these the only issues to be considered. Just to take two examples from HoL in past years, there was heated discussion on this site about the increased risks of injury to pedestrians when trees were blocking street lights near the zebra crossing in Endymion Road, and the Belisha (yellow) beacons were less visible because dirty and faint. And also when non-working street lights and trees prevented cyclists in Green Lanes being seen easily; or themselves seeing dangerous potholes in the road surface.
Going back to the programme, it's also worth paying attention to the views of Edmund King, President of the Automobile Association who told "You and Yours" of evidence from Coroners' Courts and Police reports which, he said, have called for lighting reviews and improvements at accident sites.
Edmund King also challenged Phil Edwards on the programme claiming that while the rate of accidents had not increased, the rate of decrease didn't match roads where lighting levels had been maintained. As you heard, Maddy, Dr Edwards was unable to refute that, but simply repeated his claim that the figures did not show an increase.
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Permalink Reply by John W Leach on
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I question the source of this report - a hospital? Who paid them to do the research?
I was surprised at the small the projected cash saving would be given the comfort it gives people to have street lights.
Is the cost of solar powered LED lights prohibitive or in the long run a real eco cost saver?
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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Taken from the published paper:
The LANTERNS project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Public Health Programme (project number 11/3004/02).
The National Institute for Health Research is part of the NHS. It's website says:
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is funded through the Department of Health to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. It is a large, multi-faceted and nationally distributed organisation. Together, NIHR people, facilities and systems represent the most integrated clinical research system in the world, driving research from bench to bedside for the benefit of patients and the economy.
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Hugh,
Thanks for this information and I still question whether a hospital has the correct resources to carry out such a project as street lighting and I cannot for the life of me understand why the NHS are funding such research given they are forever complaining they haven't enough money.
It seems plain daft.
John.
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could switch off every 2nd light on the Ladder for sure. does not make sense having all those lamps on. way too bright
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