Street lights are being switched off or dimmed to save money in three-quarters of England's council areas, according to Labour Party research.
The party said much of Britain was being "plunged into darkness", claiming the number of lights switched off had "soared" in recent years.
It comes after councils warned of "huge financial challenges" after next year's government grants were announced.
Ministers say services have been maintained despite spending cuts.
In recent years, authorities across the UK have been switching off street lighting after midnight, to varying degrees, to save money.
Safety concerns
The move is opposed by motoring groups, with the AA saying it has contributed to car crashes.
But the Campaign to Protect Rural England has previously called for more councils to dim lights to "reduce the impact of light pollution".
Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has previously said switching off street lights can save a "phenomenal amount of money" and cut crime.
Labour said 141 of the 150 English councils responsible for street lighting had responded to its survey, with 50 switching off some lights at night
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30569215

We send foreign aid to countries that don't need it, and hate us, while we fumble around in the dark! ( slight exaggeration - allowed by taxpayers who's money is mis spent)

^ that's bold.

I know I'm missing something obvious here, but wouldn't poor street lighting be likely to lead to an increase in crime.

ali baba wrote:

Cowshed Cowboy wrote:I know I'm missing something obvious here, but wouldn't poor street lighting be likely to lead to an increase in crime.

Normally when someone makes a counterintuitive claim you'd expect them to provide some evidence or justification. Newspapers however will publish anything and everything so long as it can be placed in speech marks and attributed to someone else. You may as well get your information from a toilet wall.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/w ... 54114.html

http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/1078 ... ff/?ref=rc

http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/1163992 ... sh/?ref=mr

Common sense should inform people that accidents and crime will increase. It will take time for the figures to highlight that. It's especially dangerous for young women heading home after a night out, or who work late. Channel 4 news had a report about it( Monday).

Light pollution - People stay in cities for jobs and amenities. If they were bothered about light pollution, they would live in the country with other tree huggers.