Residents’ safety will not be compromised when a partial switch-off of street lights begins in Wharfedale next week.

That is the local police inspector’s view on a city-wide scheme Leeds City Council hopes will save £1.3 million over the next decade.

Lights on some roads in Wharfedale will be turned off between midnight and 5.30am from Monday, October 21, with more in Otley and Yeadon to follow two weeks later.

Concerns have been raised that the shutdown could cause a spike in overnight crime or accidents, but Inspector Richard Coldwell of the Aireborough & Wharfedale Neighbourhood Policing Team is confident that won’t happen.

He said: “In our neighbourhoods I think people should be reassured that they live in a relatively low crime area and that this scheme will not affect community safety in any way.

“The switch-off does not occur until midnight, when the majority of people will be at home and probably in bed.”

More details can be found by visiting leeds.gov.uk/sles, sending an e-mail to highways@leeds.gov.uk, or calling (0113) 222 4407.