PLANS to cut services in Hampshire in a bid to save £80m have been given the green light with more than 270 jobs now being at risk.

Street lights are to be switched off for longer hours at night, support for people with learning disabilities is set to be reduced and residents are to be asked to pay to dispose of non-household wood waste and to park at countryside sites where it is currently free as part of a move that will save Hampshire County Council £80m by 2021.

The controversial proposals, which could also mean the closure of some libraries, were approved by county bosses at a full council meeting in Winchester yesterday.

Further details of the proposals are yet to be revealed and will be subject to public consultations and further approval.

As previously reported, 277 jobs are now at risk with 120 of them being in the adult social care and health department and up to 58 in the library sector.

At the meeting council leader Keith Mans said this is the fifth of a series of saving programmes and will be the most challenging.

Opposition leader Councillor Keith House said

: “The incremental reduction of our services continues and it’s Hampshire people that have to pay. Every time we are cutting services that are essential.”

A number of councillors raised concerns over the effect the cuts will have on the health and adult social care department.

As previously reported, one-to -one and two-to-one support for people with learning disabilities, services which provide drug and alcohol treatment to adults and young people as well as support for youngsters affected by domestic abuse are also set to be reduced.

Cllr Liz Fairhurst, cabinet member for adult social care and health, reassured members saying that every Hampshire resident who needs adult social care will receive it.

“I would like to agree with the leader, we need a national solution to adult social care", she added.

As previously reported, earlier this year Cllr Mans called on the Government to come up with a funding strategy to tackle the increasing pressure on social care.

County bosses said they are proposing a tested strategy of investing early, maximising income opportunities and "carefully" using the council’s resources.

Public consultations expected to be held over the coming months.