SURREY County Council has revealed which streets are set to be plunged into darkness this Christmas - with hundreds of residential roads affected across the Farnham area.

The council’s cabinet approved cost-cutting plans to switch off 44,000 street lights between midnight and 5am across the county last month, and the first phase of the controversial project is set to be rolled-out next month.

Ahead of this, the council has published its long-awaited list of the roads affected - revealing almost every residential street in the Farnham area is set to be pitched into darkness.

In summary, ward-by-ward, a total of 29 roads are affected in The Bourne, three in Farnham Castle, one in Moor Park, 21 in Firgrove, 31 in Hale and Heath End, 39 in Shortheath and Boundstone, 38 in Upper Hale, 41 in Weybourne and Badshot Lea, and 34 in Wrecclesham and Rowledge.

Further afield, 27 roads are affected in Elstead and Thursley, and two in Frensham Dockenfield and Tilford.

Some of the larger roads affected in the Farnham area include Alfred Road, Arthur Road, Middle Bourne Lane, Morley Road and Riverdale, and School Hill in Wrecclesham.

However, all A and B roads have been spared the cut, plus many popular through-fares such as Crondall Lane, Drovers Way, Falkner Road, Great Austins, High Park Road, Sandy Hill Road, Upper Way and Weydon Lane.

It is understood around 30,000 lights in Waverley, Guildford and Surrey Heath boroughs will be turned off from the beginning of December, with a further 14,000 in the rest of the county to follow in January and February.

The so-called Part Night Lighting Programme has been criticised by opposition Lib Dem councillors who have accused Surrey of undertaking the decision without consulting the residents affected, as well as jeopardising public safety.

But justifying its decision, Surrey said turning off 44,000 street lights in residential areas would save it around £210,000 per annum along with reducing the council’s CO2 ‘footprint’, adding the decision was taken in conjunction with Surrey Police.To see a list of the street lights set to be turned off in Waverley, see . https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/104912/PNL-Programme-Phase-1-Waverley.pdf.