TORFAEN residents can have their say about the council’s decision to switch off up to 50 per cent of street lights in the county by taking part in a public consultation.
From October 29 residents can post their comments online at www.torfaen.gov.uk/streetlights, contact their local councillor or phone the council's contact centre on 01495 762200 about the issue.
The local authority says the soaring cost of energy and food, a lower than inflation settlement from the Welsh Assembly and other budgetary pressures have left them with no choice but to switch off up to 50 per cent of street lights in the county.
The council is also committed to reducing its carbon footprint and says switching off lights would save around 1,235 tonnes of carbon - around eight per cent of the council's total yearly carbon emissions.
There are 13,344 street lights in Torfaen which cost £400,000 to power in the last financial year - a figure set to rise to £600,000 this financial year and to £900,000 in 2009/10 based on current rises.
Over the next month of the consultation the council and will talk to residents, local business and the emergency services to help determine which lights will be switched off.
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