STREET lights on housing estates may be turned off and gritting reduced to A roads only under a £1.6 million cost cutting plan for Wiltshire County Council.

The cuts could also see the scrapping of subsidies for Sunday and evening bus services and the axing of the parish lengthsman scheme for routine maintenance on rural roads.

The measures were put forward this week in a bid to save on the council's environmental services budget, but immediately came under fire from councillors and residents alike.

County councillor Sandie Webb, who represents Chippenham, told council chiefs they could not get away with it.

"We cannot accept in any way the switching off of lights on roads," said Coun Webb.

"The perception of crime is high despite the figures not reflecting this. Switching off street lights will create so many problems for so many people."

Her views were echoed by residents. David Bishop, who lives in the village of Heddington, near Calne, was appalled.

"It's not going to be safe for anybody to walk the streets at night," he said. "A lot of youngsters wander around here after dark and it's simply going to be dangerous for them."

Mr Bishop, 54, of Hillside Close, added: "This village is full of winding roads and if they're not going to be gritted there will be accidents when it's icy.

"Does the council want to have its hands covered in blood? It's their choice.

"If this goes ahead there will be such a backlash from the public it's going to make the council totally unelectable."

The cost-cutting proposals were unveiled by Richard Lander, the county council's director of environmental services.

He said turning off street lights on minor roads and on housing estates would save £530,000 a year; scrapping the parish lengthsman scheme would save £450,000; limiting winter gritting to A roads would save £100,000; scrapping maintenance of cycleways would save £75,000 and cutting subsidies to bus services on Sundays and evenings would save £225,000.

Mr Lander, who said there is currently a shortfall of £1.6 million for next year's budget, said his department was facing unavoidable rising costs in inflation as well as in waste disposal.

But members of the county's environment advisory panel who met yesterday said the proposed cuts were unacceptable.

Coun Fleur de Rhe Philipe, chairman of the panel, said she will urge the council's cabinet to find more money for environmental services when it decides on next year's budget for all services in January.

She said: "I shall be telling them the department needs significant additional funds and it is as simple as that."

Coun Brian Atfield, who represents Cricklade and Purton, said the proposed cuts would take the county back to the dark ages.

He said: "It is absolutely ridiculous switching off street lights. We can't accept any of these proposals.

"It's a diabolical situation. Once the parishes realise you intend to switch off street lights it will be tantamount to a revolution."

Chippenham residents have added their voices to the outcry. Monkton Park resident Norman Smith said the street lighting cuts were unacceptable.

"If they take it out altogether it would be a backward step. If we live in a community with no light at all it will take us back to the Middle Ages."

David Rowlands, of Easton Avenue, Monkton Park, said turning the lights off would be a negative move.

"It is very important to have street lights on an estate. Without it the roads would be much more dangerous," he said.

He was also worried criminals would have a freer rein. "If people can be seen and recognised they are less likely to get up to mischief. To save a few coppers, it is a daft idea."

He was also worried a cutback in gritting could put people's lives at risk.

"It is a misconceived policy," he said.

Chris Moore, of Oak Road, said cutting street lighting would be a false economy.

"It would not be saving much money if cutting back on street lighting led to an increase in crime," she said.