New street lighting operating times in Cambridgeshire are to be introduced from tomorrow (Friday) as part of the financial savings agreed as part of the county council’s budget for 2016/17.

Street lights owned by the local authority are planned to work on reduced operational times.

All Cambridgeshire County Council owned street lights will be dimmed during operational times including those located on main traffic routes and many street lights will be switched off between 2am and 6am on residential roads and footpaths.

Some streetlights are excluded from switch off as they meet exception criteria such as where CCTV cameras are present, lighting is part of a road safety measure or police have demonstrated there would be an increase in crime.

In addition, some local councils have offered to contribute to keep the lights within their communities on between the hours of 2am and 6am.

The following authorities have agreed to fund all the street lights in their area: Leverington Parish Council, Sawston Parish Council, Teversham Parish Council, Wisbech Town Council and Yaxley Parish Council. While the following councils have agreed to pay for some of lights to remain on: Bury Parish Council, Chatteris Town Council, Cottenham Parish Council Grantchester Parish Council and Littleport Parish Council.

Cambridge City Council has also agreed to fund lighting for the streetlights within the city boundary between the hours of 2am and 6am and the county council is currently in discussions with them regarding the implementation of this.

Graham Hughes, executive director for economy, transport and environment services at Cambridgeshire County Council said: “The decision to switch off street lights in Cambridgeshire between 2am and 6am has been a difficult one for the council, and has been part of the overall business plan that has required savings of over £40m across all services this year.

“We offered the opportunity for local councils to fund additional lighting on top of the times provided by the County Council and a number have decided to do that – I would like to thank them all for their cooperation and support.

“There are also some other streetlights, which for safety reasons or are required to support CCTV, that will remain switched on. We hope residents understand these changes are being made to make financial savings to protect the critical front line services which the authority delivers.”

To check if streetlights will be affected in your area visit: www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/info/20081/roads_and_pathways/604/street_lighting