MANY of Torfaen's streetlights will be fitted with dimmer switches as the council moves on to the next stage of decommissioning in a bid to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions.

More than 2,000 streetlights will have dimmer controls installed which will allow lamps to be dimmed from midnight to 6am giving a 33 per cent reduction in energy savings.

Annual savings are estimated at £41,711 based on current energy prices.

Thousands of streetlights have already been switched off in Torfaen since the scheme started in February 2009.

But Christina Harrhy, chief officer for neighbourhood services said the council would not be looking to turn more lights off.

She said: "We didn't achieve what we set out to, but this was partly because energy prices reduced in 2009-10.

"But if we had not have undertaken the work than our energy bills for that period would have been a third higher than what they were."

"We have now been able to seek funding from the Welsh Government by way of a £600,000 loan which will be paid back over eight years.

The cabinet agreed that 1,920 existing orange lamps on side roads should be replaced with energy efficient white lamps.

This is likely to see carbon usage reduced by 236.6 tonnes per annum.

Councillor John Cunningham said: "Some people have been concerned that white lights will not be as bright as the orange ones but we have already seen demonstrations which prove this is not the case.

"The white lights do in fact have a higher degree of illumination."

A report from the council's neighbourhood services department which was submitted to the cabinet states there is no direct evidence to show that changes to street lighting have had a direct impact on overall crime levels in the borough. Ms Harrhy said: "There is definitely a greater perception of crime particularly among elderly people since lights have been switched off, but the facts and figures show there is no direct link and there has actually been a reduction in the number of crimes.

"Gwent police have been working with vulnerable people in the area and will continue to do so."