The scope of a review of street lighting across Hertfordshire has been agreed by leading county councillors.

The council signalled in December that it would hold a review after a public petition and a Labour motion calling for lights to remain on through the night.

On Wednesday (March 18), at a meeting of the council's cabinet, members agreed the review would look at the "efficacy" of the existing part night lighting policy, with particular regard to safety and accessibility, the local economy and prevention of crime and disorder. It will also consider any environmental, legal and financial implications.

The council operates around 116,500 street lights across Herts – the fifth largest number among highways authorities.

Under its part night lighting policy, most of those are dimmed from 9pm before being switched off completely from 1am to 5am.

In December, Hertfordshire resident John Dowdle highlighted the impact of the council's street light policy on people with conditions such as agoraphobia and nyctophobia, the fear of darkness.

He suggested the savings it brought to the council were "tiny and piffling" compared to the heightened fear and anxiety it caused, and presented a 1,042-signature petition calling on the council to scrap part night lighting.

In addition, Labour councillors tabled a motion calling for a review of the policy, assessing the impact of current lighting schedules on public safety, accessibility, health and equality.

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Their motion acknowledged some areas were lit "adequately" but that "concerns remain about dark spots and schedules in other locations".

It said inadequate lighting disproportionately affects women, vulnerable residents and those without access to private transport, and that part night lighting undermines the evening economy and businesses that rely on residents feeling safe after dark.

It was in considering the Labour motion on Wednesday that the cabinet considered the scope of the review.

Presenting the recommendation, executive member for highways Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst (Lib Dem, Abbots Langley) said: "We have, like most highways authorities, a part night lighting policy […] we still have street lights that stay on all night long.

"The [..] review will look at the implications of any potential changes, the change of circumstances since the policy was introduced in 2012 and whether we need to change any of that, taking on board the financial implications, the effects on carbon emissions and any changes within the locality where we currently have street lights."

Since part night lighting came into operation 14 years ago, according to the report, there have been reviews and revisions "balancing perception and feelings of safety, concerns of many residents about light pollution, reducing our carbon emissions and ensuring an affordable service for Hertfordshire's taxpayers".

A report on the findings of this latest review will be considered by a meeting of the council's highways cabinet panel, and will include the scope of any further consultation relating to any recommended changes.

It said: "Any increase in scope over the existing street lighting policy will no doubt lead to an increase in the consumption of energy and carbon emissions, as well as cost."

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Any potential increases in street lighting costs as a result of the review will be considered as part of the council's budget setting process "for 2027-28 or beyond".