A DAMAGED street light is risking the safety of parents and their children after going months without being fixed, it is claimed.

Ray Howard, councillor for Canvey West, has complained to Essex County Council after a street light column in Canvey Road, destroyed following a car crash around three months ago, was not repaired.

Mr Howard has aired deep concerns about the broken column which remains surrounded by barriers on the pavement.

He said: “The Charfleets residential estate, which contains around 600 properties and the parents that live there have to walk through Canvey Road in order to get their children to Canvey Junior School on that footpath.

“Children and parents have to walk into the road around the barriers and it is a real danger.

“Mothers with prams are having to walk round and the elderly people are having to walk into the road.”

After months of frustration with the broken column, Mr Howard contacted Rebecca Harris, MP for Castle Point to help encourage work to be moved forward.

Mrs Harris contacted Essex County Council about the old street light column.

The council has promised to fix it but nothing has happened for a long time.

A council spokesman, said: “Essex Highways advised four weeks ago a large hole was dug.

“Red barriers erected to transfer the current to the new unit.

“Essex Highways will liaise with the contractor and request they prioritise the completion of these works.

“In the interim they must try and make the works passable for the members of the public.”

Mr Howard said that he hopes something can be done soon to remove the column which is causing a danger to pedestrians in Canvey Road.

He said: “Frankly, I feel enough is enough.

“I accept it is easy to criticise the authority but when they are not acting to help residents they must be made to carry out the work.

“Rebecca has said they will be acting quicker but I want to see it happen.”

A spokesman for Essex Highways said there are plans to carry out works soon.

They added: “Our inspector will visit the site to check the situation and then we will carry out any works required to ensure that pedestrians in the area can walk safely.”