The local authority is rolling out new LED street lights, which are hoped will not only save the council money in terms of the cost of lighting but also address light pollution and CO2 emissions.

However, councillors still expressed concerns about whether the lighting was adequate.

Councillor John Williamson lives on Musselburgh’s Whitehill Avenue and confirmed that a number of street lights near his home had been updated to LED.

However, he added: “I’ve had a few people complaining about the new street lights.

“Where I stay in Whitehill, most of the lights have been replaced.

“You walk down the street and there are black spots and then [you are] blinded by the light and then [you are] in the dark again.” He questioned if the new lights could be tweaked slightly in a bid to solve the problem.

Currently, East Lothian is home to 17,793 street lights, worth more than £26.6 million.

The number of street lights increased by more than 3,000 between 1996 and 2011, with the jump put down primarily to “extensive housing developments”.

Alan Stubbs, the local authority’s service manager for roads, said: “We project a significant increase in lighting stock in a similar fashion over the next five to 10 years, putting additional pressure on East Lothian Council street lighting budgets.” The move to LED lights will cut down on the amount of light pollution or “spill light”.

The older types of light have “little optical control” and tend to “scatter light in many directions”.

Mr Stubbs told Mr Williamson that any lighting issue could be explored.

He added: “Complaints have been received from residents about light pollution, stating this was interfering with sleep during the night; however, many people welcome this unintended light spill as an aid to entering and exiting their homes.

“A public perception therefore still exists that street lighting is provided to light these private areas.” According to the report before councillors at Tuesday’s policy and performance review committee meeting, the majority of crime takes place either in daylight hours or beneath artificial light.

The research, conducted by the British Astronomical Association, found that crime usually occurs where or when there are few (if any) witnesses and so the lighting levels in some cases are irrelevant.

Lighting can also highlight potential targets, security lapses and even escape routes.

Mr Stubbs said: “Concern has been raised regarding a potential increase in criminal activity in locations where the new LED light has been installed.

“The concern is that the new LED lighting does not spill light to areas previously illuminated by the older orange light and will increase criminal activity.

“To date, there has not been any evidence to support this is the case; however, we would advise any resident who has any safety concerns to contact Police Scotland, who will be happy to advise on measures to improve security and reduce risks.” In 2015, East Lothian Council will be charged approximately £577,000 by its energy supplier for electricity consumed by street lighting.

The cost of local authorities paying for electricity for street lighting has quadrupled in five years, with costs expected to double within the next decade.