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Home , Fonthill Bishop, Stourton with Gasper, Sutton Mandeville, Tollard Royal

Mere Parish Council Clerks Report – July 2010 Agenda Items 6e) Suggestion for reducing street lights or reduced lighting times - I have obtained the following information from Council : • Background • has been approached by a number of communities seeking to:- – reduce their carbon footprint – reduce light pollution of the night sky – reduce energy costs – Street lighting and illuminated signs have been identified as a major use of energy by the Council in a recent review. • Trial Schemes • Dimming and turning off unnecessary lighting for part of the night have already been successfully introduced in trial sites at Urchfont and Tidworth.

• The Council has set aside approximately £4,000 for each Community Area to introduce schemes this year. • Existing Photo-electric cells on street lighting can be replaced by new units to turn some lights off approximately midnight to 5.30am, or lighting can be dimmed for part of the night. • Considerations • In urban areas there may be concerns about crime and personal safety, as well as some road safety implications, and it may be more appropriate to dim the street lighting during part of the night. • In rural areas and villages turning off street lighting for part of the night may have local support, especially where pollution of the night sky is a concern, and there is a desire to preserve the rural environment, as well as concerns about climate change. • Area Boards • The Area Board has been asked to solicit interest from Town and Parish Councils and other interested parties to take part in the scheme. • The Area Board will decide on which submissions will go ahead in their area. • Next Steps • £4,000 would enable over 80 units to be converted to part night lighting so that they would go off at about midnight and come back on at approximately 5.30am. • The scheme offers the opportunity for communities to demonstrate their commitment to reducing their carbon footprint. • The Area Boards are in a unique position to encourage communities to take part in the scheme • If successful more cash will be made available for schemes next year

South West Wiltshire Parishes

Area Town/Parish Light Units Mere (402) Kilmington Mere 353 & 9 40 - 1 - Tisbury Ansty (233) Chilmark 1 Hindon 19 Tisbury 213 West Tisbury Wilton (474) 36 Bishopstone Burcombe Dinton 15 3 Netherhampton Quidhampton 20 South Newton 44 Stratford Toney Wilton 356 (1,109)

Notes and criteria for the Part Night Operation of Street Lighting

In support of the carbon reduction initiative, Area Boards are to be provided with additional funding to introduce small scale conversion of street lighting units of between 30% and 50% within the area identified (excluding main traffic routes) from all night operation to part night operation (switching off between midnight GMT and 5:30 GMT).

- 2 - The benefits of these conversions are three-fold: a) reduced carbon emissions, b) reduced light pollution and c) reduced energy cost. It is estimated that for each individual street light conversion there will be a reduction of 40% in both carbon emissions and energy cost.

In each area where there is agreement to proceed with these conversions it will be necessary to identify street lights that are to remain operating all night. These streetlights should be identified using the criteria set out below and, in addition, through consultation with the Parish or Town Council and the Police.

Criteria for retention of all night operating streetlights:

• Main traffic routes (dimming of streetlights may be introduced if appropriate). • Locations with above average road traffic nighttime injury accident record. • Areas with above average record of crime. • Areas provided with CCTV local authority/police surveillance equipment • Areas with sheltered housing and other residences accommodating vulnerable people. • Areas with 24hr operational emergency services sites including hospitals. • Pedestrian crossings, subways, enclosed footpaths and alleyways. • Where there are potential hazards on the Highway (round-a-bouts, central carriageway islands, build-outs, speed- humps, etc.) • To maintain the legality of 30 mph speed limits at least 2 streetlights in any 200 yard section of road must remain lit all night. • Where the existing street lighting installation is considered unsatisfactory by virtue of excessive distance between individual streetlights.

Wiltshire Council recognises that ‘fine tuning’ may be required following any conversion work and requests for the reinstatement of individual streetlights to all-night operation will be given urgent attention.

A monitoring system should be set up that will compare the ‘before and after’ recorded crime figures for each area.

Information Items

Planning decisions Application Number: S / 2010 / 641 Location: FIELDS END THE FIELDS, MERE, Proposal: FELL 1 X BEECH Agent: Case Officer: Mr Shane Verrion Category Of Application: TREES CONS AREA Decision: NO OBJECTION Date of Decision: 04/06/2010

Application Number: S / 2009 / 1522 Location: OLD HOLLOW RISE DOWNSIDE CLOSE, MERE, WARMINSTER. Proposal: SUBSTITUTION OF HOUSE TYPES ON PLOTS 1, 2, 16-26 AND THE ADDITION OF PLOT 27 ON PREVIOUS APPROVAL S/2006/1599 FOR 26 DWELLINGS AT DOWNSIDE CLOSE, MERE Agent: MR JOHN BOSTOCK SIMMONS BUILDING DESIGN 5A WHITE LION HOUSE NEW STREET WELLS BA5 2LA. Case Officer: Mr A Bidwell Category Of Application: FULL PLANNING Decision: APPROVE Date of Decision: 04/06/2010 Application Number: S / 2010 / 596 Location: MARCH HOUSE SOUTHBROOK, MERE, WARMINSTER. Proposal: ERECT SINGLE STOREY EXTENSION TO REAR AND PORCH TO FRONT

- 3 - Agent: CHRISTOPHER J. GREENWOOD CHERITON GILLINGHAM SP8 5PX

Case Officer: Mr T Wippell Category Of Application: FULL PLANNING Decision: APPROVED Date of Decision: 15/06/2010

Newsletters, Magazines & Periodicals LCR – Local Council Review – Summer 2010, Volume 63

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