BASILDON’S street lights should be switched back on says council leader Phil Turner.

Essex County Council switched off the county’s street lights between 1am and 5am in March last year in a bid to save more than £1million a year.

Street lights in Harlow will be switched back on overnight on Sunday after Harlow Council agreed to foot the bill and raised council tax by 1.5% to pay for the lights.

Phil Turner, leader of Basildon Council, says the authority wants to get street lights back on, but not at extra expense to council tax payers.

He said: “Harlow struck a deal with Essex County Council where they’re paying over £100,000 a year for the next four years.

“For Basildon to be able to do that, it would cost us £250,000 a year to do that. This is just something we can’t stretch to.

“What we would like is for county council to review its policy.

“Residents have been pleading for them to come back on for their safety, and they need it most on estates with high crime and in areas of heavy traffic.

“We need help from Essex County Council on this.”

Keeping the street lights on will cost Harlow just under £106,000 a year.

County Hall will continue to be responsible for maintaining the lights in Harlow.

Rochford Council and Castle Point Council say they have no plans to switch the lights back on at the moment.