A TWELVE month, countywide trial to dim street lights across Devon in a bid to save money has been approved by councillors.

Lights will be dimmed to 40 percent, though this does not include main roads.

This comes after a small scale pilot scheme of 550 streetlights took place in Abbotskerswell, Kingskerswell, Holcombe Rogus and Sidmouth.

Devon County Council (DCC) first introduced part-night streetlighting in residential areas in 2009.

As well as part-night lighting of residential streetlights, the roll-out of LED lighting and dimming of streetlights on main roads has successfully reduced energy use, carbon emissions and costs, while keeping the public safe, DCC has said.

Devon’s streetlights used around 12million kWh of electricity in 2023/24, compared to around 31million kWh in 2015/16, which equates to an annual saving of £6 million.

Following feedback from residents in the trial areas, as well as recommendations from the council’s Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee, a three-tiered system was put before Cabinet for an extended 12 month trial on Wednesday, December 11.

Councillors agreed that an extended, countywide 12-month trial will start early in the next financial year, but its current policy on street-lighting on main roads will not change.

In market towns, lights will be dimmed to 40 percent output from 8:30pm until midnight, then switched off from midnight to 5:30am, with 40 percent output from 5:30am to 6:30am.

Whereas, rural areas will see residential streetlights dimmed to 40 percent from 7pm to midnight, switched off from midnight to 5:30am, with 40 percent output again from 5:30am to 6:30am.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: ‘Over the last decade, our streetlighting team has focused on reducing energy usage while keeping the public safe.

‘I’d like to thank them for their efforts in this area.

‘They’ve done a sterling job but there’s an opportunity to do more, for further carbon reductions and cost savings.’