Copeland Council has renewed its bid to pass on responsibility for more than 800 footway streetlights in the borough to save cash.

Earlier this year the Mike Starkie, mayor of Copeland, contacted parish and town councils to ask them to take responsibility for footway lighting in their areas.

Whitehaven Town Council was among those consulted and was asked to consider managing 55.

At a meeting on Thursday, town councillors renewed their plea for more detailed information on costs before making a decision.

Marlene Jewell, clerk at Whitehaven Town Council, told elected members: “Cumbria Association of Local Councils (CALC) recommended that councils return the questionnaire.

“I asked for advice about the town council’s powers and they said we have a power but not a duty to contribute to the cost.

“CALC had told all parish and town councils to hold off this decision and they’re still giving the same advice, until Copeland Borough Council have upgraded the lights to LED lighting, safety tests have been completed and more detailed information is given on likely costs.”

Councillors unanimously voted to follow CALC’s advice.

A letter sent by Mr Starkie to parishes said that running costs and maintenance of the lights was estimated at around £146 each. These include lights in council-owned car parks, footpaths and smaller pockets of land formerly owned by the council.

A spokesman for Copeland Council said: “The council has recently held constructive dialogue with Councillor Andy Pratt and CALC’s liaison officer for Copeland, Chris Shaw, to recommence our discussions on working collaboratively to achieve a sustainable solution regarding footway lighting in town and parish council areas.

“We will continue to progress the implementation of our already communicated and outlined footway lighting policy, and it was following our recent discussions that CALC agreed to write directly to local councils to encourage both participation and engagement with the process and with ourselves.

“We look forward to receiving input and feedback during August from those councils who have as yet been unable to send the requested returns. We are committed to give support and guidance to any council in order to facilitate the process, and requests can be made to our Open Spaces team.”