Cost saving move ditched after consultation with police
The council was hoping to reduce costs by £300,000
November 28, 2025
Hounslow Council has abandoned plans to further dim streetlights after opposition pressure and community petitions, marking a victory for campaigners who argued the proposals would compromise public safety.
Earlier this year, the Labour administration signalled it was considering dimming streetlights further and switching some off after midnight to save around £300,000 amid a multi-million pound budget gap. At Tuesday’s (25 November) Borough Council meeting, Cllr Shivraj Grewal, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, confirmed the proposals had been dropped following a departmental review, consultation with the Met Police, and concerns raised by opposition councillors.
The reversal follows a petition launched by Conservative councillor Ron Mushiso of Chiswick Gunnersbury, which gathered over 1,000 signatures in just weeks. The petition argued that “good lighting and visibility in our local area are crucial to making our streets safer” and urged the council to reconsider cuts.
Cllr Mushiso welcomed the decision, “Ten months ago, over one thousand residents signed our petition expressing concern over the impact of Hounslow Labour’s proposals to make our streets less safe. We believe that good lighting is crucial to making our streets safer, and that’s why we pushed the council to reconsider further cuts to lighting. I am delighted that our campaign has worked and that we have been able to force this U-Turn.”
While opposition councillors and residents celebrated the U-turn, Labour members emphasised the financial pressures facing the borough. The council had argued that dimming could help reduce costs without breaching safety standards, but acknowledged community concerns and police advice in its final decision.
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