Street lights could be switched off at midnight and gritting rationed in Cambridgeshire as part of proposed budget cuts.

In addition, £178,000 in savings are proposed to adult learning programmes in Fenland.

The proposals, if approved by Cambridgeshire County Council, will help meet £32.6 million in savings required for next year.

A review would take place of gritting routes, with the amount of roads gritted reduced from 45 per cent to 30 per cent. This would lead to £750,000 savings next year.

Dimming most street lights in residential areas and then switching them off between midnight and 6am would save £278,000 over two years.

Parish councils would be asked to pay £15 for every lamp they felt it was essential remained turned on.

Graham Hughes, executive director: Economy, Transport and Environment, for Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “There are no easy choices to make if we are to balance the budget and make the millions of pounds of savings required.

“At the moment these are just proposals being put forward by officers to councillors on ways to make these tough savings.

“We all want to deliver high quality services for the people of Cambridgeshire that we serve but unfortunately it is inevitable that cuts will need to be made.

“We will be working closely with parish councils and community groups on some of the proposals to see where they may wish to help in their area.”

The Environment and Economy Committee will discuss their budget proposals at their meeting on October 21.

Members of the Highways and Community Infrastructure Committee will discuss their proposals on October 28.