STREETLIGHTS on 400 major streets in Wiltshire will be switched off at night to save money.

Wiltshire Council said turning off the lights will save more than £9,400 a year.

The lights will be switched off between midnight and 6am when traffic flows are low. It will start in the summer.

Councillor Dick Tonge, Cabinet member for highways, said: “The lights concerned will be on straight roads where there no properties or junctions.

“Many people feel very strongly that we should be saving energy for a variety of reasons. Some want to reduce light pollution while others want to help the council save money to protect other services.

“This scheme might only make a small contribution but every little counts.”

The lights to be switched off are: A3102 Greenacres Way, Calne; A350 West Cepen Way, A4 Pewsham Way and A4 Avenue La Fleche, Chippenham; A4 Corsham to Box; A361 Caen Hill and A361 London Road (from the Horton Road roundabout towards Beckhampton except the junction with Hopton Industrial Estate), Devizes; A350 Western Way (between Semington roundabout and Countryside roundabout), Melksham; A4 Pewsham; A338 Churchill Way South and New Bridge Road, Salisbury; A361 Hilperton Drive, Trowbridge.

The AA motoring organisation is against the switch-off because of fears over increased accidents and crime.

A spokesman said: “The very least the council can do is to monitor the impact of turning the street lights off and accident rates on these roads.

“The best solution is to invest in light dimming technology.

“This has happened in Durham and it saves £46 per street light a year. The difficulty with this can be the capital cost on councils to fund this technology.”