A CONTROVERSIAL trial to leave more than 1,000 street lights off in south Bucks to save council cash will start in the next week.
Major A-roads, including the A40 between High Wycombe and Gerrards Cross will go dark in coming months.
Buckinghamshire County Council hopes the move will save £85,000 and reduce its carbon footprint.
The changes mostly affect the A40 and A413 and will shut off 1,008 lights along 25 miles of road.
Last August lights were shut off on the A4128 Hughenden Road and the A413 at Great Missenden. Road bollards, studs and markings have been put in place where needed before the latest switch off, a council leader said.
The lights will go dark in Wycombe from early May, Chiltern from early June and south Bucks district from mid to late June.
The plan has split residents. Visitors to bucksfreepress.co.uk called it ludicrous' and a waste of money' while others said the lights are not needed at all times.
Councillor Val Letheren, responsible for transportation at the council, said the trial was ground breaking.' She said: "Our approach has been really thorough and has carefully considered all the road safety, accessibility and community safety issues of turning off streetlights.
"No significant issues have been raised which we have not been able to deal with or that cause us major concern.
"We'll be continuing to monitor what is happening at these sites."
Roads that will be affected by the light switch-offs in early May include the A40 Wycombe Road, from 40mph at Stokenchurch to the end of the lit length at Wycombe end, and the whole of the lit length at Beacons Bottom.
More lights will be turned off at be the Marlow Bottom Road, from Handy Cross roundabout to Handy Cross Farm, and the same road on the approach to Little Marlow.
Also affected is the B4440 Holtspur Lane from Marlow Bottom Road, from the approach to the Beaconsfield end of the A40 roundabout to 40mph at Wooburn Green.
