STREET lights across the BCP area could be switched off overnight to save the council money.

As reported, the council was discussing switching off lights to save money towards the end of 2023.

Proposals to turn off lights in some Poole residential roads were included in the council budget, which was voted through at a full council meeting on February 20.

When this happens, it will match what already happens in many roads in Christchurch.

The streetlighting in Poole can be remotely controlled, so the hours of operation can be easily amended by the council, with assessments set to begin in April.

It is understood that there is currently no such central management system for lights in Bournemouth, with the council adding lights to the system as and when the units come to the end of their life and need replacing.

A statement said: “Changes to streetlighting in Bournemouth will take longer with individual units added to the remotely controlled system as part of the maintenance programme and with future decisions then taken to switch off during late night hours of darkness.”

It is also understood that adding the full Bournemouth streetlight network to the central system by replacing all the lanterns would cost around £2.5million, which is not financially viable for the local authority at this time.

Councillor Andy Hadley, portfolio holder for climate response, environment and energy said: “At present, the streetlights on quiet residential roads in Christchurch are turned off between midnight and 6am.

“90% of quiet residential roads in the Poole already have their streetlights dimmed in the lead up to midnight. From April we will be commencing the programme to assess and implement their switch off from midnight until 6am at suitable locations.

“Careful analysis will go into this; central areas, designated traffic routes, roundabouts, formal pedestrian crossing facilities and roads with vertical speed humps will remain lit all night. Some other areas with CCTV installations, or those which are busy all night, will also remain lit, and some lighting will remain on overnight in areas identified by Dorset Police and Safety teams.”