SAFETY fears have been raised after council bosses confirmed cuts to the number of street light checks across the area.

Lancashire County Council has decided to cut the routine maintenance and testing cycle of street lighting by 50 per cent across the county.

The Conservative-led council has also decided to stop all night time inspections of street lighting.

Leader County Cllr Geoff Driver said this comes as they are ‘financing repairs in a more appropriate manner’.

County Hall bosses said the decision has also been made due to £25million being invested in ‘upgrading to more reliable’ LED street lighting since 2008.

However councillors have raised fears the move will endanger residents and cause road safety issues.

Labour cllr said Bernadette Parkinson, who represents Great Harwood on Hyndburn Council, said: “I am worried about the street lighting maintenance cuts and the impact this will have on my residents especially the vulnerable and the elderly.

“The Conservatives in Lancashire recognise that this will result in more complaints but like the cut in the renewal of white lines, they do not seem to care.”

Inspections of street lights will now only take place during the day.

Concerns were also raised by fellow Great Harwood representative Cllr Noordad Aziz that if faults are not reported or go unfixed, this could lead to people feeling isolated, being more reluctant to go out and a potential increase of anti-social behaviour.

Labour councillors highlighted how this will provide the county council with a saving of £2.161million.

Accrington North County Cllr Loraine Cox said said this comes on top of £500,000 which they previously cut from the road safety budget by stopping the renewal of white line and safety signs at the previous Cabinet Meeting.

She said: “Cuts such as this have a direct impact on public safety.”

Cllr John Fillis, deputy leader for Labour for the county council, said: “The Conservatives claim they are spending more money on the roads, but the reality is that they are cutting road safety and endangering local people.

“We are only six months in to the Conservative administration and they have already cut the Highways Budget by £2.661 million and they still have to find over £60 million more this year, due to their austerity.

“Everyone knows that if you do not maintain equipment properly, not only will it break down more often, but the cost of repairing it goes up.”

County hall bosses said any reported faults will be repaired and checks have been reduced as the lamps last longer.

County Councillor Geoff Driver, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “We have not reduced the budget by 50 per cent, we are simply financing repairs in a more appropriate manner to ease the pressure on the revenue account.

“Any faults that occur and any reports received from the public of lamps not working will be responded to and repaired as they are now.”