In November, Oxfordshire County Council’s Lib Dem and Green leaders announced plans to turn out street lights across the county at 11pm - with no public consultation.
The proposal made on the County Council’s website (Street Lighting Illumination Proposals Nov 2024) caused an outcry from residents across Oxfordshire, including in Didcot. The proposed scheme would disproportionately affect women, who are already concerned about their safety late at night when walking and cycling. It would also unfairly disadvantage shift workers in Didcot’s industrial parks, supermarkets, and pubs, who would have to travel to and from work in darkness.
Well-lit streets are a key component of people’s safety. According to South Oxfordshire District
Council’s 2022 Engagement Update, Didcot residents are already reluctant to travel through the
town’s underpasses at night, between the town centre or station and the Ladygrove estate.
The negative effects of such a scheme have already been seen in nearby Warwickshire and
Northamptonshire, where for some years street lights have been turned off in the early hours,
resulting in residents reporting that they feel less safe at night.
Mocky Khan, leader of the South Oxfordshire Labour Group and Didcot Town Councillor says, “We should be doing more to keep Didcot streets safe, not less. This proposal was uncovered and
challenged by Labour councillors. The ensuing backlash forced the administration to pause their plans - the final decision has been pencilled in for July. If elected, we will fight to keep Didcot’s street lights on.”
Leader of Oxfordshire County Council’s Labour Group, Liz Brighouse says, “The County Labour Group are opposed to turning lights off at 11pm in Oxfordshire. This will have a detrimental effect on women and girls, and all those who work unsocial hours including those in the NHS, hospitality and retail, carers, cyclists and pedestrians. Many will feel scared to leave their homes when the lights are switched off. We cannot support a curfew on our streets and lanes across the County.”
Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds says, “No changes should be made without input from local residents here in Oxfordshire. The County Council shouldn’t be rushing through changes that would disproportionately impact women, shift workers, and users of public transport without consulting them. Drivers and cyclists would also find it more difficult and more dangerous to get home safe at night. We should be doing more to make our streets safer, not less.”
With the support of Oxfordshire residents, the implementation of these plans has now been
deferred.
Please sign and share this petition to keep our streets safe and #KeepTheLightsOn.
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