AN ENVIRONMENTALIST group has congratulated the Standard for putting pressure on the owners of the former Woolworths building to turn the lights off.

The building’s lights have been blazing 24-hours a day since the firm went bankrupt and the building was emptied just after Christmas.

But after we contacted landlord Wildmoor Properties most of the lights have now been turned off.

Woolworth’s administrators Deloittes became responsible for the tenancy when the company folded in December but a spokesman said the keys, and responsibility for the lights, were returned to Wildmoor Properties in February.

Wildmoor Properties’ director Mark Booth said: "Deloittes have not returned the keys to Wildmoor. We have arranged to hold a set of keys on behalf of Deloittes to make it easier for both parties to manage the situation. The lease remains in place and has not been determined.

"With regard to the lights, apparently the fire alarm system required certain lights to be left on permanently for it to continue to operate.

"I have looked into this and it appears as if the main sales lights had been left on unnecessarily. I have now had them switched off and the only lights that remain on are the emergency escape lighting through the ground floor sales area."

Robert Irving, co-ordinator of the Cirencester branch of Friends of the Earth said: "Well done to the Standard. It’s ridiculous for them to have left it on all that time."