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Monday 24 November 2014

SEFTON COUNCIL: BRINGING IN A ‘NEW’ BLACKOUT!



During WW2 ill-considered blackout proposals resulted in many road casualties. Today however the brilliant boffins at Sefton Council seem to wish to take us back to a ‘new’ blackout, with associated risk of safety on our roads.

The local Southport press have recently informed residents that under the latest proposals, lamps in both urban and residential areas could be “turned off during times of low activity” in the cost-cutting scheme.

 

 

The Council’s terminal numbskulls in grey suits have apparently suggested turning off every other “high energy” street lamp on main roads between 8pm and 6am – affecting some 4000 lighting columns.


‘PUT THAT LIGHT OUT’!


Wartime regulations in the blackout required street lights to be turned off and traffic signals and headlights to be dimmed. This official mission to deter Hitler however had a ‘reverse’ effect, ultimately leading to a striking increase in highway fatalities.

The King’s surgeon advised in the British Medical Journal in 1939 that by, “frightening the nation into blackout regulations, the Luftwaffe was able to kill 600 British citizens a month without ever taking to the air”.

The number of deaths reached a zenith in 1940 at 9,169. One individual died that year for every 200 vehicles on the road, whilst today the figure is one for every 20,000.

Do potentially increased crime and road safety not deserve higher priority? 

Laughing all the way to the bank? 


Sefton seems addicted to making stupid cost cutting schemes. 

However, why not save much more via pruning back high-paid and largely insignificant Council executives like Margaret Carney, who was reported to make more money than the UK’s Prime Minister?  



In January 1 2009 with an annualised salary of £150,894, Carney beat the Prime Minister's £142,500 salary. Including expenses and pension contributions she was said to have received a total of £176, 465 from the local authority in 2009/10.



Priorities are apparently thin on the ground in some quarters!

So, who needs Dad’s Army when we have good old Sefton Council to ‘carry on regardless’ with the blackout?



Addendum


Looks like Sefton Council ‘already’ know the potential dangers of turning off our street lights...  


IMPACT OF SERVICE CHANGE

Service Users: Some customers may perceive a reduction in service whilst others may agree with switching off street lights between certain times.

Partners: Potential for increased workload for Ambulance / Police service due to increase in crime and accidents in darkened streets.

Council: The risk of increased insurance costs higher level of claims for damages for slips / trips etc

Reputational risk.

More here...





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