Lights out in Devon

[worldgonewild]

Pensioners are frightened to go out at night to the bingo thanks to Devon's new 'lights out ' policy to combat 'global warming'.

Surely thats againsed Health & Safety/

Yes exactly! It's crazy.

The elderly have been seen coming home in the dark using torches, after a night out on the town bingoing. It's the return of the barmy 'no nukes' councils of yesteryear! Important to tackle climate change but not this way.

They should probably shut down the bingo hall instead (if it's mecca or such like and not a village hall) with the amount of lighting, computerised stuff they have in those places they'd definately be doing their bit!

we moved to Devon recently and we really love being able to see the stars so brightly. keep the street lights off....

Yes good point regards the stars. Maybe Mecca bingo could teach grannies how to get home via the stars. Just as long as they don't all end up in Saudi Arabia.

They can't be real local grannies, they must be Incomers. Retirees from the cities. Or they'd know how to get home via the stars.

Mole Avon sell great rechargeable torches. We have no street lights, but I have my own temporary light, which i can switch off to view the stars.

Ken Livingston has played with the idea of switching the lights off occassionally in London. I guess when commuters start to see torches given out at stations on their way home from work, they'll know that Ken has finally lost the plot. And muggers will be grinning from ear to ear.

If they grew up in the country, they'll remember life before street lighting, when people did carry torches at night time.

Maybe some of the councillors should be operating a walking bus for bingo!

As an amateur Astronomer I would welcome all lights being shut off. Everyone could start enjoying the night sky again.

My DD would love it. She got a torch for Christmas. And when I was cooking dinner a couple nights ago she came in with her torch and wanted my to turn the lights out. Cute... but, uh... no. I thinkI prefer to cook by bright light.

Well I would agree that house lights are certainly needed.

We have no street lights. i use a torch. Our neighbours are all in their seventies and eighties. When we moved in we were asked if we would want street lights. When we said no, our eighty year old neighbour said he was glad

Any idea where in Devon? I live here and have done for rather alot of years and haven't heard this at all??? Wonder if its a strange North Devon thing that us Southies don't know about!

they suggested that round here, not taking into consideration the criminal activity

They seem to put streetlights in some very 'odd' places around here.

Thought the councils were all supposed to be fitting those 'downlighters' to street lights? No need to switch them off, just direct all the light to where it is needed (the ground) and not up into the night sky - probably too much like common sense for any council.

Bring back the dark skies I say

treehuggermum - I hope you aren't suggessting that the North Devon folk are 'strange'

I almost resent the implication that North Devoners are strange.

Almost.

oh my god, there are mumsnetters in south devon? not just me? better watch who i post about.

The view from my Devon window is pretty bright. Lots of street lamps.
Send the grannies in this direction.

Keep the lights off, in appropriate places. Service lanes which are not used at night anyway, thinking of my service lane for example, not a short cut to anywhere, used for absolutely nothing apart from the bin lorries, but has about 6 lights on, and at least 10 streets in my area most likely the same. But think some alleys/quiet roads need to be kept lit for safety.

Do agree how nice it is to see the skies, what did the pensioners do before street lights?

I didn't think it was a on going thing just a one off News

So then the car accident rate goes up.

That has to be the fucking stupidest thing I've read all day, and I've been on the Kerry Katona threads.

You're not in favour then expat ?

Those councillors out to cut down on their breathing, yurt, they're emitting carbon!