LANCASHIRE County Council has been accused of 'compromising safety' by halving the number maintenance inspections of street lights.
The Tory-run authority's Cabinet also decided on Thursday has to end night-time checks to save £440,000 a year
Cllr Erica Lewis, Labour highways spokeswoman, said “This is a completely false economy. Everyone knows if you do not maintain equipment properly, not only will it break down more often, but the cost of repairing it goes up. This will result in more street lights being shut down permanently as the funding will not be there to repair them.
“The loss of lighting will not only affect road safety, it will create a sense of unease, especially amongst the elderly and parents who worry about their children being out after dark.”
The switch was first proposed in December last year.
Cllr Keith Iddon, county council highways boss, said it was moving to more reliable LED lamps.
He said: "I'd like to reassure those concerned there may be fewer working street lights this is not something we expect to happen, or would accept. Faults occur much less often with LED lamps, and when they are reported we will respond within five days."
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