AN ANDOVER councillor is sending a plea to Hampshire County Council to reconsider its decision to switch off street lights between 1am and 4am, saying that ‘safety must come before money’.

Cllr Iris Andersen, who represents Andover St Mary’s on Test Valley Borough Council, says she is ‘begging’ the council to take the issue seriously, “as a concerned resident, mother, and grandmother”.

She told the Advertiser: “I am appealing against the safety of lights being switched off, for the safety of women walking home in the dark.

“They have been switched off to save money, but surely we can find a better way for everybody's safety. Can Hampshire County Council not find a better way to save money somewhere else in their new financial year?

“I beg Hampshire County Council to find a way, for the safety of women that might get attacked , raped, not knowing who is behind you walking home in the dark.”

The council took the decision to reduce the street light hours across the county in 2019, citing ‘energy saving’ reasoning.

However, conversations following the death of Sarah Everard in London last week have led to renewed calls for street lights to be turned on in these night-time hours.

Iris says she has been out with the street pastors in Andover, who are “brilliant people” and “vital” to the community, making sure that no one needs to walk home alone.

However, she says that there has to be other options regarding the street lights, particularly given recent events.

She suggested that, with lighter evenings coming and the street lights not needing to be on as early, the county council could consider a trial period, or working together with electrical companies who may be willing to support the safety initiative.

She continued: “I think it needs to be looked into, to see if there is somewhere else that the council could save money.

“Safety has got to come first. There are lots of things that we can be doing to save energy, but not something that risks safety.

“Being a woman you are very very vulnerable, doesn’t matter what age you are. But I don’t want to be biased, it is not only women. It’s everybody I fear for.

“It could be anybody. Someone could be walking home from seeing a sick relative, for example, not necessarily just from having a good time. People get sick in the middle of the night and ambulance drivers have to get to these calls when it’s pitch black.”

Iris says it’s something, as a mother-of-six - five daughters and a son - and a grandmother, that she has been “thinking about it for a while”, adding: “This is the right time to get something sorted out. I don’t want us to say we wish we had done something, and then it’s too late.”

Appealing directly to the county council, she added: “I would like to see the county council think about what has happened, to think very seriously about this. There have already been tragedies, let’s think about the cost of this.”

Iris hopes her appeal will be backed by her fellow community members: “Whether you’re a parent, or whoever you are, everyone needs to make it clear that safety comes before money.

“This is not just happening in Hampshire. This is something wider. I know the whole country has a money problem, but this is a serious safety aspect for all different communities.”

Hampshire County Council says there is 'no direct relationship between street lighting times and changes in crime patterns', but that it 'welcomes' the government's increase in funding for street safety, announced today (March 16).

Councillor Rob Humby, deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and environment, said: “Firstly my thoughts go out to the family and friends of Sarah Everard - what has happened is awful and I recognise it puts issues of night time safety, especially amongst women, into focus.

“I would like to reassure residents that we work closely with the Police and actively review street lighting arrangements in areas where they express concern."