AS A taxpayer I was very pleased to read that North Yorkshire County Council plan to save some of our money by turning some street lights off after midnight.

The added bonus of this scheme is that it will make seeing the stars at night easier. Anyone who has lived in a place with no lights knows that the stars are a fantastic sight.

The gut reaction of many will be to believe that turning off the lights will make the streets and footpaths less safe.

There is plenty of evidence that turning outdoor lighting off does not increase crime.

The majority of crime occurs either in daylight hours or beneath artificial lights. According to The Campaign for Dark Skies:

• Crime usually occurs where or when there are few (if any) witnesses, and so the lighting levels are irrelevant

• Lighting can highlight potential targets (“easy pickings”), security lapses and even escape routes – in short, light can help criminals be quick and quiet

• Lighting can help criminals see what they are doing

• Outward shining lights can hide criminal activity with glare, providing ideal cover for a burglar at night by blinding potential witnesses

• PIR-activated floodlights are so frequently triggered that they are ignored by neighbours.

Outdoor lighting is operated by county, district and town councils, and many businesses and households.

Now would be a good time for everyone to save money by turning them off.

Martin Whillock, Secretary, York Astronomical Society, Church Hill, Easingwold.