Street light decision welcomed as progress by campaigners

From Monday night, the controversial blackout will start at 1am instead of midnight, county hall leaders confirmed yesterday.

However the lights will still go out at midnight every Sunday night – and the whole policy will be reviewed again when British Summer Time comes to an end in the autumn.

The announcement was made by Rodney Bass, county councillor responsible for highways, at Tuesday's council cabinet meeting.

He said the change of heart had not come about as a result of massive public pressure on County Hall from every corner of Essex–but mainly as a way of boosting the county’s night-time economy.

For this reason, the current midnight switch-off will remain in place on Sunday nights, because public transport and town centre businesses tend to close earlier on Sundays.

The news was welcomed by Sandra Devine, of Harris Close, Wickford, who launched a petition last year, urging the council to scrap its part-night lighting scheme.

She said: “Obviously it is good they will be on a bit later for people coming home at night, butIthink this issue is going to go off the boil a bit now the nights are getting shorter.

“However we are close to the general election, so I am very cynical about it – that’s how I read things.”

Making the announcement, Mr Bass said: “We have taken the decision to change the operating hours of partnight lighting because of the positive impact it will have for the night-time economy in our main towns.

“We are fortunate in Essex. Because of our uniquely flexible and controllable lighting system, we are able to do this and so can respond to issues of public perception and concern.

“We remain open to further fine-tuning of the system, and will look again at the timings when we revert to GMT in the autumn.”

The council brought in the blackout last year as a cost-saving measure, and it still maintains the switch-off is on course to save £1.4million in the current financial year. Reducing carbon emissions will also save the council £145,000 in carbon taxes.

Having the lights on for an extra hour, six nights a week, is expected to cost the council an extra £300,000.

Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris has long campaigned to get the lights back on. She said: “Naturally, I welcome this concession by Essex County Council.

“This, along with the LED street light trial I managed to secure for our borough, is at least progress in the right direction.”

'COUNTY DECISION SHOWS WE WERE RIGHT TO REJECT FUNDING PROPOSAL'

BASILDON Council leader Phil Turner believes Tuesday's announcement vindicates the borough’s decision not to fund street lights itself.

Last month, Labour and Ukip groups on the council both put forward unsuccessful proposals to use borough funds to get the lights back on.

After hearing the County Hall announcement, Tory council leader Mr Turner said he hoped the change would be the first step towards a full-time switch-on.

He added: “Absolutely, this is very positive and this is what I was trying to say. Labour and Ukip were too keen to throw taxpayers’ money ataproblem which was not of our making.

“I thank the county council for having the sensibility about a problem a lot of residents were very quick to condemn.

“I don’t think part-night lighting is a sensible policy, or value for money. I hope, after the election, we can have a conversation about getting the lights turned on all night.”

Mr Turner said the extra hour would benefit rail commuters, explaining: “When you travel back from London, you are likely to get back into Basildon between midnight and 1am. It won’t answer everybody’s concerns, but it is very much welcome.”

Castle Point Council has also indicated it might be willing to make a one-off payment to get the borough’s lights back on, but leader Colin Riley ruled out a deal which involved regular payments.