Town residents under a 'midnight curfew'

WOMEN ‘AFRAID TO GO OUT’ WHEN STREET LIGHTS SWITCHED OFF

- OLIVIER VERGNAULT

PEOPLE in the south east Cornwall town of Callington say they are living under a ‘midnight curfew’ because Cornwall Council wants to save money. It is one of the first towns to see most of its street lights being either dimmed or switched off completely at night, as a way to save energy and cash.

The council said its 56,000 streetlights are currently contributing to around 30% of its total carbon emissions so dimming or switching them off between midnight and 5am is a good way to go green and save a few pounds. The authority said the idea is to cut carbon emissions, reduce energy use, offset the increase in energy prices and reduce light pollution to help nature recovery.

However in Callington, many female residents who found themselves in total darkness after midnight on Friday were not amused. One mum-of-one said: “We have to be home by 11pm, or walk home when it’s pitch black. I know our town’s nightlife is not brilliant but many of the staff in the pubs are female and they’re having to be walked home by male colleagues because it’s no longer safe.

“Women in our town are being put at risk just so the council can save a few quid. I’m not sure they’ve thought this through.”

The woman said her son was caught out post street-lights curfew on Saturday night (October 5) but was lucky to have a torch on his phone so he could see where he was going.