As shift workers reported feeling unsafe at night, half of the city’s streetlights will be turned back on.

A number of Newport's streetlights were turned off in 2023. To cut costs, however, the city’s council reversed its decision, prioritizing safety instead.

Nevertheless, certain council members have voiced worries regarding the expenses involved and potential effects on nature.

The council mentioned that restoring the lights might require up to 15 months due to the necessity of installing new equipment.

The city of Newport started cutting back on the operational hours of street lights in 2012.

In its 2023-24 budget, the council decided to turn off 19,000 LED streetlights between midnight and 6:00 AM daily, with exceptions for the downtown area and critical highway safety zones.

Prior to that, all other LED lights throughout the city were switched off during those times.

As part of the new initiative, the council plans to equip numerous lamp posts with light-responsive cells. The upfront expense for this project is set at £320,000, while the predicted yearly operational costs are estimated at £139,000.

Council Member and Portfolio Holder for Infrastructure, Rhian Howells, admitted that restoring street lighting involved financial and environmental expenses. However, she emphasized that ensuring resident safety was the council’s primary concern.

The council leader, Dimitri Batrouni, stated that this choice indicates the local government supports its employees.

He additionally observed that although smart lighting technology was still in its infancy, it held a promising future that the council is eager to investigate.

A fellow council member, Laura Lacey, mentioned that previous fiscal constraints had forced the council to turn off the lights, but she now wholeheartedly backed the new policy since adequate funds were now accessible.

The cabinet member responsible for climate change, Yvonne Forsey, voiced her concerns that reinstating the streetlights might affect the city's environmental objectives.

She expressed her hope that the council would implement advanced motion-sensitive lighting systems, designed to activate as people draw near.

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