A woman who has campaigned hard to get Kent’s street lights switched back on has welcomed a decision to switch to LED lighting, but with caution.

Council chiefs are to switch to a new, environmentally-friendly lighting system with the aim of further reducing energy costs while making savings.

KCC plans to invest £40 million to convert its 120,000 street lights to a centrally-controlled light emitting diode (LED) system that is expected to deliver annual budget savings of £5.3 million and cutting carbon emissions by 60%.

An interest-free loan of £22 million has been secured towards the total cost of the implementation through the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Council officers are now exploring options, including securing a grant from the European Union, to find the rest of the money to make the scheme a reality.

Although the announcement was welcomed by Gravesend resident Tina Brooker, who is campaigning for KCC to reverse its decision to switch off lighting overnight, she criticised the timeframe of the scheme.

The legal secretary said people’s lives would still be at risk.

The 52-year-old, who lives in The Warren, said: “I am obviously pleased that LED lighting together with a Central Management System (CMS) is now being proposed by KCC.

“With this system it is usually a given that street lights are reduced to 50% power between the hours of midnight to 5am rather than switched off. As far as I am aware this has not yet been verified by KCC.

“Also the timeframe for this scheme is still years away and therefore people’s safety is still at risk in the intervening period. Therefore the Right to Light Campaign must continue.

“Borough and parish councils must come together for their residents and find a solution.”

The LED lamps will be controlled by a CMS that enables lights to be monitored remotely and detect faults as soon as they develop so that they can be repaired quickly.

Using a CMS, the operator can choose exactly when to switch each individual street light on or off and by how much to reduce the lamp power.

David Brazier, cabinet member for environment and transport, said there were significant benefits.

“LED lighting had been prohibitively expensive, but has recently fallen significantly in cost, with manufacturers now guaranteeing their products for up to 20 years.

“The average increase for energy prices this year has been around 11%. These increases will be further exacerbated by a carbon tax – adding considerably to our costs.

“LED lights are significantly more efficient than traditional lights. Converting our stock of street lights will therefore reduce energy consumption, reduce carbon emissions and reduce our maintenance bill.

“In addition to saving council taxpayer money, it would also mean a better service for residents and businesses in the county.”

KCC has already held meetings with installers and manufacturers to help inform the procurement process.

Tina Brooker launched her Right to Light campaign in response to KCC’s Safe and Sensible initiative which led to almost 70,000 street lights being switched off between midnight and 6.30am.

She initially campaigned to have lamps in her road turned back on after her disabled neighbour was forced to hide in a wardrobe when would-be intruders tried to break in to her home a few weeks after the scheme was introduced.

Despite repeated refusals to her request, four of the nine lights in The Warren have now been switched back on.

KCC has always maintained that the switch-off will be reviewed district by district and the impact of any rise in crime taken into account.

However, Ms Brooker is continuing to fight for all lights affected by the switch-off across the county to be relit.

To sign her e-petition, go to the KCC website, search e-petitions and click on Right to Light.