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
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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