RESIDENTS in Poole will be left in the dark over whether their street lights are to be turned off during the night to save money and energy.

After consulting 14,730 residents in 4,500 roads across the borough, Poole council’s head of transportation services is recommending pressing ahead with a nine-month trial.

Wards where the majority were in favour of the move included Broadstone, Merley and Bearwood, Canford Heath East and West, Creekmoor and Penn Hill.

Only locations supported by residents, ward councillors and the transportation advisory group will be chosen for the trial and cabinet will be asked to approve their decisions on individual roads.

But the first residents will know is when their neighbourhoods are plunged into darkness between midnight and 6am, or dawn if it is earlier.

A report to Borough of Poole’s transportation advisory group said: “The police have advised against wider publication of the road names in order to help reduce any potential for fear of crime.

“Those residents living in a road that is chosen to proceed with a switch off will know once the trial is implemented.”

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “We can only confirm that this is a local authority decision. Dorset Police were consulted along with other partner agencies.”

Creekmoor resident Gerry Bolland, whose road is among those under threat of darkness said: “Clearly the police consider there is a significant risk that this would alert those with criminal intent to the opportunities a dark environment will provide for criminal activity.

“It would appear entirely reasonable to alert residents of the date from which their street lights will be extinguished, in order that they might arm themselves with torches or install additional lighting around their property as appropriate to their needs.”

Residents in the areas selected for the trial will be consulted again afterwards to see if the reduced street lighting should remain.

Last year the council spent £700,000 on street lighting. An earlier trial, which saw 150 lights switched off in 18 streets in areas with low crime and road safety concerns, was made permanent in November 2010.