HALF of Wiltshire’s street lights are to be turned off between midnight and 5.30am under a new energy and money-saving scheme.

The measures, which also include the use of dim lighting at less busy times, energy efficient lighting on new installations and getting rid of street lighting where there are “no significant pedestrian movements or safety concerns”, are expected to make savings of £380k.

In February, Wiltshire Council asked the public to comment on where savings could be made in the 2012/13 budget and reducing street lighting costs scored the highest of the seven savings options.

Following this, another public consultation was set up to find out how the savings should be made.

Dick Tonge, the council’s cabinet member for highways, said: “The consultation showed that most people were concerned about light pollution and thought there was too much street lighting. “There was also agreement that lights should remain on at junctions, in town centres, and in subways and alleyways. We have more than 40,000 streetlights and most of these are on all night whether they’re needed or not. The feedback from the consultation has really helped us put forward a scheme that will save electricity and will be acceptable to residents.”

More than 1,300 street lights have already been converted to part-night lighting following recent area board projects, and the council has converted its illuminated bollards to low energy units. The council has a target to reduce its carbon footprint by 20 percent by 2013/14 and an aspiration to achieve a 50 percent reduction by 2020.

Over the next couple of months the council will look at what funding is available for the scheme and which areas of the county will be affected.