Falmouth’s streetlights saved from midnight switch-off, for now

Walk home from a late shift in Falmouth and you will notice something different this week. The streetlights that usually blink off at midnight are staying lit for longer, on more nights, after months of pressure from an MP, two local business bodies and more than a hundred residents who refused to let the issue drop.

What Cornwall Council has agreed to change

The changes stem from a decision by Cornwall Council to switch off or restrict street lighting on residential routes in Falmouth at midnight. Three changes are being brought in this week, ahead of Freshers’ Week beginning on Monday 14 September:

• Streetlights will now stay on during student nights (Wednesdays and Thursdays), on top of the existing Friday and Saturday coverage.
• Lights will stay on throughout the whole of Freshers’ Week, from 14 to 23 September.
• A number of roads are being moved from a switch-off profile to a dimming profile instead, so they stay on at a lower level rather than going dark completely.

The campaign behind the U-turn

The push for change was led by Jayne Kirkham, the Labour MP for Truro and Falmouth, who launched an online petition in July calling on the council to reconsider. She argued that lighting areas with busy evening economies strikes a balance between cutting carbon emissions and protecting the people who use Falmouth’s nightlife, as well as those who work in it through the small hours.

The petition drew backing from Falmouth Town Council and the Falmouth Business Improvement District, alongside more than 100 people who added their names in support.

“Everyone should feel safe getting home,” Jayne said, thanking everyone who signed the petition.