Calls have been made to bring back full street lighting and night-time police patrols to help improve safety for at night.

In August 2018, Hounslow Council approved "dimming and trimming" of street lighting, which meant shortening the time of street lights being on by 18 minutes a day and to reducing the lighting output level to a total 60 per cent from dusk to midnight on residential streets.

This was further cut down to 50 per cent between midnight and dawn.

The report, which detailed the aims to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, make savings of £60,000 a year but also assured it could be done "without compromising public safety".

Despite this, it acknowledged: "We would not meet the standards and requirements as specified by the code of practice for street lighting, BS 5489.

"There is no statutory requirement for local authorities to provide street lighting but there is an expectation that most urban streets will be lit."

Conservative councillors have written to Hounslow Council leader Steve Curran and communities cabinet boss Katherine Dunne urging them to restore street lighting to 100 per cent in the borough, as well as requesting Hounslow policing boss chief superintendent Peter Gardner to emphasise their recommendations for increasing night patrols.

Chiswick Riverside cllr Gabriella Giles said: "We know shops keep their lights on through the night specifically to light up dark spots, however, Hounslow is a predominantly residential area where it can be intimidating walking home from public transport links and after evenings out enjoying the borough's many cultural experiences.

"On these routes, we can't rely on the goodwill of shops to light pavements, paths and roads. It's for the council to provide well-lit routes to reduce risks and improve safety at night."

Cllr Joanna Biddolph, founder of the Chiswick Shops Task Force, also pushed the case for re-introducing special constables to the area to boost street patrols.

The Turnham Green councillor said she and colleagues know there are "numerous dark spots" where residents and visitors might feel vulnerable, adding: "We want everyone to go back to enjoying our bars, pubs, restaurants and takeaways after lockdown is lifted.

"If our roads are perceived to be dark and risky, people will not go out at night…

"The savings made by dimming and trimming street lighting should not be prioritised over safety on our streets.

"If councillors were to wait till 2022 to take their increased councillors' special responsibility allowances, street lighting could be restored to full strength at no cost to the council this year; next year's budget could be set with safety, not savings, as a priority."

Hounslow Council was contacted for comment.

You can follow us on FACEBOOK and TWITTER