Cornwall Streetlights to Dim in 15 More Areas: Check If Your Town Is Affected

Cornwall Council is expanding its efforts to cut carbon emissions and reduce light pollution by dimming or switching off streetlights in several areas between midnight and 5am. This next phase of the project will impact multiple parishes, including Altarnun, Lostwithiel, and St Stephen-in-Brannel, among others.

More Areas to See Streetlight Changes

Residents in Altarnun Parish, Boyton, Grimscott, Kilkhampton & Stibb, Laneast, Lockengate, Morwenstow Parish, North Petherwin, Polperro, Poundstock Parish, St Gennys Parish, St Keverne Parish, Week St Mary, and Whitstone will notice streetlights dimmed or turned off during the late hours. The council says these changes aim to help reduce carbon emissions, protect wildlife, and contribute to Cornwall’s designated Dark Skies areas.

Areas with a bustling night-time economy or CCTV coverage will see dimmed lights rather than complete switch-offs. Locations such as traffic signal junctions, pedestrian crossings, and hospital entrances will continue to be illuminated to ensure safety.

Safety a Priority, Says Council

According to Richard Williams-Pears, the council’s portfolio holder for transport, safety has been a key concern during the planning of this roll-out. “So far, 670 of the council’s streetlights have been dimmed or turned off. That number increases to 3,800 in this next phase,” Richard said.

Consultations with the Safer Cornwall Partnership were undertaken to ensure safety isn’t compromised. “We won’t be compromising on safety as where risk assessments have shown that streetlights are still beneficial, they will be kept on, or will be dimmed once new LED bulbs are fitted,” Richard added.

Future Plans and LED Upgrades

The council is in the process of replacing all streetlights under its control with energy-saving LEDs, which will be remotely monitored and adapted to the needs of local areas. Cornwall’s streetlights currently account for around 30% of the council’s total carbon emissions, making this a critical step toward reducing the council’s carbon footprint.

Residents can check an interactive map on the Cornwall Council website to see where and when streetlights in their area will be dimmed or switched off.

For more information, visit Cornwall Council’s official page.

Parish and Town Council Involvement

Local councils are also involved, with parish and town councils being encouraged to share their feedback on areas where streetlights may need to stay on or be switched back on. Requests are being fully considered as part of the ongoing process to balance energy saving with public safety.

The council is continuing to monitor feedback and data from local stakeholders to ensure the project meets community needs.