The county council could keep the lights on and still save money, an opposition politician claims.

Stephen Giles-Medhurst, the leader of the Liberal Democrats in the Hertfordshire County Council, has written to the Conservative cabinet member for highways Cllr Phil Bibby with a possible solution to the problem of lighting the streets at night.

Street lights are currently turned off at 1am to save money. Cllr Giles-Medhurst has suggested that by turning street lamps to half-brightness between 5am and 6am, they could be kept on at reduced power from 1am to 2am, enabling night workers to get home safely.

He says the reduced power in the morning would save the council £30,000 a year. It would cost just £19,000 to turn lights on between 1am and 2am - still saving £11,000.

Cllr Giles-Medhurst said: “Having the same lighting levels from 5am till 6am until the lights are turned up to maximum at 6am not only makes sense but saves money and allows for the night time extension.”

He says in urban areas with a night time economy people who arrive late on trains to St Albans and Watford want the lights on later so they feel safer - But also accepts some people may want them off earlier.

Cllr Giles-Medhurst argues it should be left to each area’s county councillor to decide which light should stay on till 2am and those that go off earlier.

He said: “I have one resident who told me about his wife wanting to get a taxi home from her train station because it was so dark and she did not feel safe, but she was refused because her house was so nearby.

“I hope the Conservatives would agree to this sensible and costed idea, which will save the county council money and ensure people can feel safer going home.

“That would be true local democracy and I urge the Conservatives to not only agree to our costed proposals that save money, but return power to locally-elected councillors."

Conservative Cllr Phil Bibby did not wish to comment, but said the proposal had been received and a decision will be made on Monday.