Children could be at riskif lights are switched off

That was the warning to members of Woodhall Spa Parish Council at their monthly meeting last week.

The future of six footway lights in the village is under threat as part of a raft of cost-cutting measures by East Lindsey District Council.

Parish councillors voted to take on responsibility for the lights in Sandy Lane but rejected similar plans for two lights in Kings Walk and three on an access road behind shops in The Broadway.

Coun Graham Keegan told the meeting that he had visited Sandy Lane and spoken to residents.

He was assured the two lights were vital for the safety of children, particularly during the winter.

Coun Keegan said there was no pavement on Sandy Lane and stressed that, without the lights, children would be at risk from passing vehicles.

He said: “It is a busy road and traffic often travels at high speed. There have been numerous accidents. In fact, I’m informed a police car once crashed into a fence.

“These lights are vital and I think we should agree to keep them on.

“Parents of the children are very concerned what might happen if the lights were to be switched off.”

Councillors went on to discuss the footway lights in Kings Walk and The Broadway.

However, they were told that, in both instances, the lights were sited on private land.

Council chairman Coun David Clarke said that, in the case of The Broadway, the area was already illuminated at night by security lights from nearby shops.

Earlier, councillors heard that the cost of keeping all seven lights switched on would be around £300-a-year.

However, that figure could increase if any extra maintenance was required, or any additional lights were added to the ‘at risk’ register.

Footway lights throughout East Lindsey are under threat

Councillors were told that lights would only be switched off - or handed over to town and parish councils - following a full risk assessment.

Street lights - which are the responsibility of the County Council - are also under threat from proposals to save cash.