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New LED street lights are continuing to be rolled out across the county but not everyone thinks the energy saving bulbs are a bright idea.

The new street lamps have even been likened to UFOs and prison floodlights by some.

Gloucestershire County Council began replacing the first of its 55,000 sodium street lights in November 2015 in a bid to reduce energy consumption by 70 per cent.

By March 2019, every street lamp in the county will be crowned with an energy efficient bulb, saving the council around £1.4million a year.

But not everyone is happy with the upgrades, with some people comparing the whiter light to "floodlights employed in high security prisons".

Another resident, Sandy Griffiths, said the new lights resemble the landing lights from alien space craft in the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Suzan Gunnee, from Cirencester, said: "I’m not very keen on the replacement bulbs in the streetlights. The white light is a lot brighter and harsher than the old yellow ones.

"Perhaps better for safety but they do feel more like something from high security prisons than cosy Cotswolds."

Gareth Rhys from Chesterton, Cirencester, also thinks the new lights are too bright and harsh to look at.

He said: "They changed the lights in Somerford Road about six months ago and trust me, you don’t get used to them.

"They dazzle both driving and walking and are too intrusive. They should change them back to something more diffused."

Kay Craughwell said: "I can't understand why you would fix something that isn't broken and waste peoples money, rather than wait for them to break and then replace as they do? Surely the money wasted on this could sort out all the pot holes in Cirencester?"

But the council says the many benefits of the new street lights include a longer lifespan, reduced maintenance costs and less light pollution.

Councillor Vernon Smith, cabinet member for highways, said: "I’m really pleased with the progress we’re making in bringing these new street lights to the county.

"There are so many benefits to using LED lighting. They’re more environmentally friendly, decrease light pollution, offer a better quality of light and a 70 per cent reduction in energy usage.

"They’re great for communities because they produce a brighter, clearer light that makes people feel safe at night, and of course they’ll save us all lot of money."

Many residents have welcomed the new street lights and the subsequent reduction in light pollution.

Pauline Rickards Taylor said: "I love the natural feel of the lights. When it's all done we will see the stars so much more. It's so much clearer without so much light pollution."

Kelly Marie Halle also welcomed the new lights when they were installed in her street last month.

She said: "I like them, it feels much more safer when walking late at night, and I can see clearly in my street."

The new street lights focus light downwards rather than upwards, reducing light pollution and making incredible natural phenomenons like the Northern Lights visible in our night skies.

What do you think of the new LED street lights? Are they too bright or just right?