Safety fears as 1,300 sign Exeter street light petition

A petition calling on Devon County Council to rethink its decision to permanently dim and switch off most of Devon’s street lights has become the largest submitted to the authority in recent years, as concerns grow in Exeter over women’s safety and late-night travel.

The petition, led by 23-year-old Exeter resident and Labour council candidate Rose Lelliott, has gathered more than 1,300 signatures and follows a viral TikTok video that attracted more than 30,000 likes.

While thanking everyone for contributing to this petition, Devon County Council confirmed to Exeter Today that: “The safety of all highway users has been our priority throughout the policy’s development.”

“The street lighting dimming policy was carefully developed with cross-party input and two countywide trials. Exeter’s main roads remain lit all night, and officers continue to work with stakeholders including InExeter, the Student Guild, and Devon & Cornwall Police to address safety and VAWG concerns.”

“The Council has been switching streetlights off at night for around a decade, and this decision does not alter switch off times in Exeter.”

“The vast majority of roads in and around Exeter City Centre are lit all night as these have always been considered main routes. Exeter is on a separate bespoke lighting regime which recognises its unique nighttime economy and reflects feedback on earlier trials.

“The policy reduces carbon emissions, energy use, and costs, with annual savings of around £270,000 and roughly 200 tonnes of carbon. The Central Management System allows lights to be quickly adjusted if safety concerns arise, and the policy is under continuous review.”

“The policy is kept under continuous operational review. The Central Management System allows lighting levels to be adjusted quickly in response to police advice, safety concerns, equality impacts or community feedback at any time during the trial and beyond.”

“We will respond to the petition in line with the Council’s Petitions Scheme.”

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Campaigners say it has now overtaken the 2023 Heavitree and Whipton Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) petition as the largest recent campaign submitted to the county council.

Rose says the issue has resonated strongly with women and shift workers across the city.

“I am incredibly frustrated that Devon County Council has ignored the concerns of women,” she said. “Despite hearing that women feel unsafe with this, they have gone ahead and ignored very real concerns.

“It feels very much that the council considers women’s safety to be worth less than £270,000. These street lighting changes effectively impose a curfew on young women, who have already faced years of anxiety walking the streets at night.”

She also criticised what she described as a lack of meaningful consultation with businesses, community groups, Exeter City Council and women’s groups before the permanent rollout.

Additionally, Exeter MP Steve Race has backed the campaign, highlighting concerns for women and shift workers travelling after dark. 

He cited the Angiolini Inquiry, which stressed the role of good street lighting in keeping women safe, and noted that improved lighting can reduce violent crime by 21 per cent.

“This Government has declared violence against women and girls a national emergency,” he said, “so I’m concerned that Devon County Council has ignored this advice and residents’ concerns, and gone ahead with street light switch-offs in Exeter. 

“Safety should not come at the expense of cost-saving. I want DCC to consider alternatives such as motion-activated or app-controlled street lights.”

The campaign follows Devon County Council’s 17 February cabinet vote to make permanent changes to street lighting after a 12-month countywide trial (1 April 2025 – 31 March 2026). 

The Cabinet report recommended keeping the current dimming and switch-off regime and allowing senior highways officers to make minor adjustments.

Under the policy, residential lights in Exeter are dimmed to 40 per cent from 9.30pm to 12.30am, switched off until 5.30am, then restored to 40 per cent until 6.30am; main roads remain fully lit. 

The changes, affecting around 80 per cent of Devon’s street lights, around 45,000 of the 66,000 streetlights connected to the Central Management System were included in the trial, allowing quick adjustments if safety concerns arise.

During the trial, 12 enquiries were received, including five in Ilfracombe where earlier switch-off times for shift workers were later adjusted. 

Other feedback included support from Appledore and Dunsford and objections from Barnstaple, Exeter, Okehampton, and Tiverton.

It is understood that the petition will now be considered under the council’s formal petition scheme.