Plea for street lights to be turned back on
12-145 No lights in Ninian Road, Hemel Hempstead. Michael Sturman with dog Louie. Also in the photograph is another annoyed neighbour Jan Fletcher.
A DOG owner is calling for street lights to be switched back on after he fell over while walking his four-legged friend.
Michael Sturman says all of the lighting has been turned off in the Grovehill cul-de-sac where he has lived for 29 years under money saving council cutbacks.
“There is not one light on. I would understand if they turned every other one off,” said Michael, of Ninian Road.
“It is just asking for trouble. They should leave some street lights on in a close.”
Herts County Council is switching 80 per cent of its lights to part-night lighting, which means they are turned off between midnight and 6am.
The 59-year-old, who uses a walking stick, was taking labrador Louie out to stretch his legs at around 12.30am on Sunday, February 19, when he took a tumble.
Council spokesman Alice Newbon said: “The scheme is constantly under review and as a result of additional information being provided to us about particular areas, about 80 street lights which were converted to part-night lighting have been switched back and now remain on all night.
“A full review of the scheme will be carried out in the summer of 2013.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Tring
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 21 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
PrivateDancer
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 06:52 PMMaybe he threw it for Louie the dog but it was too dark to find it ? Can you get light up sticks ?
onlinereader
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 06:29 PMha i see they corrected the time now , also if this man does need a walking stick how is it he doesn't need it to help hold him up after a fall ??? i see no walking stick ???
Mrs burgerking
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 02:22 PMOnlinereader oops yes 12.30am..., ColetteColls most kids have mobiles nowadays and most have torches on them ....if not you can buy handbag torches for your kids, to make them safe. Even dogs collars can have lights on them now..
closed account
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 07:10 PMI was brought up in a village where there were no street lights at all. We just used torches if we needed to go out after dark and if you didn't have a torch handy you walked slowly so you didn't bump into things or people or fall down pot holes. Simples.
lost in time
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 06:19 PMWhen I was a kid, I was always told to take a torch out with me. In this day and age with LED torches and wind up, battery free torches there is no excuse!!!!!!
lost in time
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 06:16 PMAnd I do know there are 2 n's i "Connect".
lost in time
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 06:14 PMIf you would like the street light outside of your houses left on all night, why don't you offer to let the Council conect it to your electric meter and pay for it yourself.
hammer-time
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:00 AMSo we should spend out hundreds of pounds a year to light the area just so this bloke can roam the streets in the dead of night .... get him a torch ! Or better still, walk the dog in the day time.
PrivateDancer
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 07:58 AMColetteCols, the lights aren't switched off until late at night, what time do your 'kids' get home then ?
livewell
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 03:42 AMmarcdtr - living under the bridge (troll)- one problem with your arguement is the council mortgaged all the houses last year, the bank owns them. Maybe you should actually read the news for a change instead of just trolling it.
marcdtr
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 03:07 AMMeans test council tenants in Hemel Hempstead the ones that have £35k plus coming into the house, remove them they can private rent. Then sell the house which can pay for the lighting.
ColetteColls
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11:29 PMi wudnt mind if some of the lights were turned off but shud b leaving 2 or 3 on in the streets, im not sleeping prop at night as its just too dark and am scared for my kids when they come home and the lights are all off x
Reikisue
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 10:44 PMIf anyone is interested we have set up a Campaign Group based in Borehamwood (although our aim is to cover the whole of Herts) seeking to have our lights turned back on or to agree an eco-friendly cost-beneficial compromise. There are many alternative options that could be considered. Unfortunately Hertfordshire County Council didn't see fit to even bother discussing this initiative with us and completely disrespected the entire community of 1 million residents living in Herts! We have already been on BBC local news and BBC Three Counties Radio and LBC Radio. As a group we want the lights back on or a compromise agreed for reasons of health and safety, practicalities of those out and and about, well being of the community and individuals, and crime prevention (albeit whether the fear of crime is percieved or actual). We do understand that some people want to see the stars, however our stance is aimed more at protecting the health and safety of residents in our communities and looking after those who are out and about e.g. shift workers such as nurses, carers, milkmen, young people coming back from nights out, those using late night public transport etc etc. This is the online Hertfordshire County Council petition to 'Turn our street lights back on': https:consult.hertsdirect.orgpetitionspetition?petition_id=26045 Our Facebook Campaign Group is entitled 'Turn Our Street Lights Back On': https:www.facebook.com#!groups189605187792781 We already have Hemel residents on our petition - please join us if you're interested. Thanks Suzanne (Alford)
Wayward
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 08:52 PMInterestingly enough we are also in a no lights at night street, yet at 11.30am this morning, we had one lonesome light on in the street!!... REALLY... we do not need the lights on in the day time, save it for when we really need them, at night.. thats why they are called night lights!!
marc
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 07:32 PMI walk my dog at that time of night regularly, one of the unfortunate side effects of shift work. the lights will stay off until someone falls over and sues the council, then they'll launch their 'lights on' initiative as if they're doing us a favour.
Page 1 of 2
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.