MP & AM React With Dismay At Council Vote On Powys Streetlights

10.22.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 24th Oct 2008

Brecon & Radnorshire's Liberal Democrat MP, Roger Williams, and AM Kirsty Williams have reacted with dismay at the news that a Liberal Democrat-inspired motion to call a halt to the streetlight switch-off, pending a review of alternative options by a council working group, was defeated at a meeting of Powys County Council today, despite the support of the council's Conservative group.

After the two groups had tabled separate motions on the issue, a composite motion was agreed between them. However, bar support from a few independents, it failed to attract the support of the other three groups on the council.

Commenting on the outcome, Roger Williams said:

"This is a very disappointing result. All that the motion was asking for was for council members to be given a bit of breathing space to consider other options. Cllr. Paul Ashton put forward an alternative solution that would have sustained the lighting and made the savings the council is looking for. The current scheme is leaving whole streets in total darkness and in my view placing the public at risk. Two weeks ago Cllr. Ken Harris put a proposal to the Council's Board to suspend the switch-off pending a full review, which was rejected. Now the full Council has missed an opportunity to respond to the wishes of local communities, which is deeply regrettable."

Adding her thoughts, Kirsty Williams said:

"I pay tribute to the Liberal Democrat Group for leading the debate on this issue and am grateful that their efforts attracted the support of the Conservatives on this occasion. The current scheme simply lacks public consent and the total lack of consultation with communities before it was brought in has been its biggest flaw. The great switch-off is occurring only to save money, not the planet, as Powys County Council purchases all of its streetlight electricity from renewable sources.

I remain very concerned about all the community safety aspects of this policy. We will have to wait and see how the full effects of the switch-off impact on local communities through the long, dark nights to come and hope that the promised full review before Christmas forces a change of direction in the New Year."

End

Contact: Roger Williams MP or Kirsty Williams AM on 01874 625739

End