‘Dark Skies’ proposal to turn off streetlights in Oxford puts many local women at risk.

Oxford County Council delays plan to turn off streetlights overnight in Oxfordshire and surrounding areas after facing pressure from locals.

Photo: Anders Sandberg at flickr.com, CC-BY-NC 2.0

A proposition has been made for streetlights to be turned off in Oxfordshire and surrounding areas between 11pm and 6:30am to cut costs but concerns of the safety of the public have arisen following the announcement.

The council appears to have taken a U-turn on their plans after 2,000 people signed a petition raising safety concerns following the announcement.

Amidst the proposal, Cllr Sudbury of Oxford County Council faced much backlash as locals reprimanded him with concerns of how dangerous the decision is for members of the public.

The chancellor has responded to these concerns in an attempt to set the record straight claiming that “This was intended as a technical document, which was meant to be a framework on which to base next stages, including consultation, and authorise expenditure. Unfortunately, it was quite understandably seen as a plan for immediate implementation.”

Cllr Sudbury follows up by saying that “As a result, it set a lot of hares running, and I apologise for any upset caused.”

While this statement has reassured some people, the concept has still left some locals worried for their safety, particularly young students.

Oxford Brookes University student Martha Harris said that “as a young woman it is sad that we have to think about the danger we could be putting over selves in when walking home alone but that’s the way the world is these days unfortunately and this announcement makes me feel so uneasy. I really think it’s a terrible idea and it really puts us at risk in these colder dark winter months.”

Sarah Blackburn, a parent of a child attending Wychwood School in Banbury told Hybrid about the worry the announcement has caused for her. She said that “My daughter walks to school slightly earlier on certain weekdays due to sports practice sessions and with the sun rising later these days it’s still dark when she leaves the house and I truly worry for her safety amidst these new propositions, I won’t stand for it.”

As it currently stands, the plans have been deferred for further consideration following complaints from the public and the Council are yet to set another date for discussing the plans to turn off streetlights between 11pm and 6:30am.