A LACK of street lighting in Fordingbridge is putting people "at risk”, a councillor has warned.

Councillor Anna Wilson raised concerns over the reduced levels of street lighting during a meeting of Fordingbridge Town Council on Wednesday, February 6.

She said: “They have really reduced the level of street lighting on all the roads in Fordingbridge.

“What’s happened is people are driving on main beam around the roads because they can’t even see to drive.

“I bumped into a little old lady who had been blinded by someone coming around a bend on main beam and then was unable to cross the road because she couldn’t see the kerb.”

“Some of the footpaths especially on the Whitsbury Road are absolutely appalling. You have to have a torch to go anywhere in this town at night,” said Cllr Wilson.

She said it was putting the public at a “great deal of risk”, adding: “Older people will not be able to go out at night, I’m talking about 6.30 in the evening.”

Hampshire county councillor Edward Heron, who represents Fordingbridge, said the county council were “required to make savings”. He said: “Unfortunately, it is not something I am going to be able to get changed.

“Unfortunately, it is one of the things we have had to do. We have a limited budget and we also have to look after older people’s social care.

“I don’t disagree with some of the concerns. We certainly will look at increasing the light levels again at junctions where there have been problems.”

Cllr Wilson called for the reduced levels of street lighting to be investigated, adding: “Someone needs to go around the town at night. Normandy Way is fine, it is a nice, big, wide road with good footpaths. Any of these little roads around Park Avenue, Park Road and Alexandra Road, they are very narrow footpaths anyway and the street lighting is absolutely appalling. You can’t see.”