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Information from South Gloucestershire Council that may be of interest to our community

Part Night Lighting

(turning off some street lights between midnight and 5.00am)

Public Consultation Meeting

Wednesday, 23rd February
6.30pm to 8.00pm
Community Centre Meeting Room

Come along anytime between 6.30 and 8.00 to see the plans and discuss the proposals
(If you couldn’t attend the meeting please review the information on this page and complete the comment form by clicking here...
Comments must be made by the 11th March.

The Password is “partnight” without the quotes

Following the very successful trials at Charfield, South Gloucestershire, the Parish Council have asked South Gloucestershire Council to draw up plans to switch off some of the street lights in the parish between midnight and 5.00am.  This is also supported by the findings of the Community Plan which calls for turning off some of the parish's street lights during the early morning hours to reduce the amount of energy used for local street lighting.

The benefits of switching off lighting is fourfold

• Reduces the energy used
• Reduces the cost
• Reduces light pollution
• Improves environment for nocturnal animals

The next step is to consult with the community on the plans to make sure we get it right.  A small scale plan is published in this issue of the Pucklechurch News and larger scale plans will be available online.  To view the plan in PDF format click here (3MB).  Large scale plans and other documents will be available at the public meeting.

The following street lights will not be changed

• Main Roads (Shortwood Rd, Westerleigh Rd, Abson Rd)
• Areas around the sheltered housing in Dennisworth Close and Homefield Rd
• The lighting for the underpass at Oaktree Avenue
• The alleyway from opposite the Community Centre on Abson Road into the estate

Frequently Asked Questions

We can address these and more in more detail at the consultation but here is some brief information

Q. Won't darkness encourage crime?

A. This has not been the experience in almost all of the trials around the world.  In Charfield, a village in South Gloucestershire and of a similar in size to Pucklechurch, there has been no reported increase in crime.

Q. What about accidents

A. Where there is a potential danger such as main roads, junctions and roundabouts lighting will remain on.

Q. Can I have the light outside my house left on?

A. If there is a good reason, for example safety, then this will be considered.  But many of your neighbours may want the light turned off.  The Community Plan showed that the community was almost equally split on whether lighting should be switched of or not.

Q. Why isn't Castle Road lighting remaining on, surely it is a though route?

A. The community plan showed that a significant number of Castle Road residents were concerned about traffic in their area. Castle Road is not considered a through route by Highways at SGC. If it were to be lit it could signify that it was a legitimate through route in the village and increase traffic use. 

Q. Why isn't Oaktree Avenue lighting remaining on as this is the main access road for the estate.

A. Oaktree Avenue does not meet the basic criteria as it does not have significant road traffic or a night-time injury accident record. The Community Plan also sought to ascertain the number of non-injury accidents (which are not reported) across the parish and two people reported three accidents on Oaktree Avenue in the five years prior to the survey.

Q. What about the lighting at YOI Ashfield

A. YOI Ashfield are in the process of replacing their current light fittings with low energy shielded fittings.

Finally, the Street Lighting Team recognise that “fine tuning” may be required following any conversion work and requests for the reinstatement of individual streetlights to all night operation will be considered by the Parish or Town Council on their merits.