Bright sparks! Lessons in turning off lights for council staff

IT could be viewed as a noble attempt to reduce energy use. Alternatively, there may be some who view a council’s proposed training session for staff as a lesson in the bloomin’ obvious.

Workers at the offices of Cornwall Council are to be given instructions on how to switch out the lights.

The lessons have been ordered after one of the council’s main buildings – the Chy Trevail HQ in Bodmin – was ‘lit up like a Christmas tree’ all night. Completed in 201 and ‘highly energy efficient’ (unless the lights are left on), Chy Trevail accommodates more than 600 staff.

The council has admitted it was a mistake to leave the place illuminated when its taxpayers are facing an energy bills crisis and staff will now be trained to switch lights off.

Pictures of the building with lights blazing and computer screens left on were taken by a dog walker at 9.30pm on Saturday, May 13 – when many staff were unlikely to return to their desks until the Monday morning.

The man said: ‘I noticed the place lit up like a Christmas tree. How can the council justify leaving all the lights and TVs on?

‘We’re constantly told there is an energy crisis. They put our council tax up. For what reason? Because they have forgotten to employ staff that are qualified to use a light switch?’ A council spokesman admitted that ‘atrium lights at Chy Trevail were left switched on accidentally’ and added: ‘Training will be given to ensure this is an isolated incident.’

Staff will be taught that the last one out must turn off the lights, the council said.

The spokesman added: ‘Cornwall Council is committed to reducing its energy use, and has taken many steps to do so, including the installation of solar panels at County Hall in Truro and at Chy Trevail.’