Have your say on street light plans

Battle Town Council, which is responsible for the street lighting, is considering switching off the lights between midnight and 5.30am.

The council says the switch off will help the authority make “substantial savings” on energy costs.

Councillors have studied the experience of many other local authorities who have decided to switch off their street lights.

Battle Town Council said there was “no evidence” to suggest that turning off the street lights would lead to an increase in car accidents and crime.

The council said: “Potential concerns about increases in crime and car accidents were covered in the review and there is no evidence to suggest that reductions in street lighting would have a worsening effect in these respects.”

Battle Town Council is due to hold a meeting on the issue next month.

Members of the public are invited along to find out more about the town council’s plans.

The public meeting will take place at The Almonry, High Street, Battle, on February 25, starting at 6.30pm.

Other local authorities in East Sussex are also in the process of looking at reducing street lighting in their towns.

Last Saturday a public meeting was held in Rye to discuss plans to reduce street lighting in the town.

East Sussex County Council, which is responsible for street lighting in Rye, wants to switch lights off in parts of the town between 12.30am-5.30am.