Letter: Worries over Shropshire lights switch-off

Letter: Congratulations, Councillor Mike Walker, of Church Stretton Town Council, for introducing Shropshire's first pilot scheme to turn the street lights off to save cash and carbon emissions.

Is that why you introduced the 20mph speed restriction in Church Stretton? Endeavouring to remain within the restriction requires an element of gear shifting – carbon emission?

I am not surprised the police approve. Do you ever overhear the protestation in the street 'where are the police when you need them'? when under-age drinking, drugs, fighting, smashed shop windows, boy racers are all prevalent in Church Stretton.

It is not so long ago that an elderly lady was mugged in the town, before midnight, and the sports pavilion burned to the ground.

The police do not appear to cope, and are they not now under threat of financial cutbacks?

I quote you Councillor Walker: "I can assure residents that we have thought very carefully about every single light and whether it needs to be on in the middle of the night or not. In areas where elderly or vulnerable people live we are being cautious and keeping the lights on at road junctions."

For goodness' sake, Councillor Walker, you are, according to the article, aiming to turn the lights off between midnight and 5.30am.

I cannot imagine any elderly or vulnerable person being on the road junctions between those hours but I can certainly imagine a number of detours from off the A49. We have had several serious burglaries within the last few months.

And now I will assure you, Councillor Walker, I have paid for street lighting with my council tax. If you deliberately remove or take away what I have paid for, then that is theft – and the police will have to be informed.

Christine Wright

Church Stretton