AS TOWN halls cut back on street lights in a bid to save money after the coalition Government slashed funding, Wirral Council has assured readers that no lights will be switched off in the borough.

More than half of councils in the UK are planning on reducing the number of lights or dimming them, according to a survey.

But there are fears that darkened streets could encourage criminals as well as increasing the risk of road accidents.

Of 75 town halls in England in Wales polled by the BBC's Newsnight, 32 - nearly 43% - said they are already committed to having fewer street lights.

Nine (12%) said they are dimming lights, and a further 14 said such measures are being considered.

The remaining 20 insisted they will not be changing lighting levels in their area.

The reductions come after the Government announced central funding for councils was being slashed by more than a quarter over the next four years.

Councillor Lesley Rennie, cabinet member for Streetscene and transport services, said: “Wirral Council is currently trialing a new central management system for managing streetlights which aims to cut carbon emissions and energy bills.

“This trial should bring some really positive benefits. In some circumstances, assisted by modern technology, there may be genuine financial and carbon savings from dimming street lights in the early hours with no adverse effect.

" We are undertaking it as a trial to ensure it is practical, that it works and that it does, in reality, bring those expected savings.

“Residents should be reassured that no lights will be switched off completely; lights will remain illuminated and residents will probably hardly notice the slight dimming of the light.”

The central management system allows remote, dynamic control of street lights connected to the system and allows the council to vary the levels of lighting throughout the night and adjust the dusk and dawn switching times to keep burning hours to the minimum.

The system would also eliminate the problem of lights burning during the day and it can be used to measure the amount of electricity used.

The trial of 250 streetlights is taking place in the New Brighton area bounded by Rowson Street, Seabank Road, Manor Lane, Magazines Promenade, Tower Promenade and Marine Promenade.