STREET lighting across Hertfordshire will be switched off as part of a money saving measure which will reportedly net Hertfordshire County Council more than �1million a year.

The county council agreed on Friday to fund a �4.5m scheme that will selectively switch off some of the county’s 115,000 street lights, in a bid to cut an annual electricity bill of �10m.

It is hoped the scheme will save around �1.3m a year in energy costs and significantly reduce the county council’s carbon footprint.

The adoption of the scheme follows a trial run in WGC in January – but the idea has long been a controversial one.

In 2008, Codicote residents opposed similar proposals in their village, saying it was too dangerous for pedestrians walking late at night.

County Councillor Stuart Pile, executive member for highways and transport, said: “We appreciate that some residents may have concerns about our proposals. The safety and wellbeing of residents and motorists is very important to us. Areas where there is pedestrian activity after midnight, such as town centres, will remain lit throughout the night. Lights will also remain on at major road junctions and sites where there is a history of accidents.

“We are working closely with the police to develop the best approach for areas with higher crime rates.

Implementing part-night lighting will be discussed at the next Highways and Transport panel meeting in March.