SOUTHEND Council is to spend £2.65million replacing the borough's streetlights with brighter LED lighting – while the rest of the county remains in darkness.

The five-year plan to replace all 14,000 of the borough’s lights with the energy efficient bulbs will start next month.

It is in marked contrast to Essex County Council, which has turned off the majority of streetlights in Basildon, Castle Point and Rochford from midnight until 5am – claiming that LED was too expensive.

Martin Terry, Southend councillor for public protection, said the authority did not want to follow in the footsteps of their county counterparts.

He said: “There is very, very clear evidence that lack of street lighting does increase crime and I’m delighted that we have not taken that approach.

“People are not happy with what the County Council has done and they feel unsafe and instead we are helping the environment and keeping people safe. I drove down the A127 last week when the lights went out around Rayleigh Weir and it was very off-putting.”

Eastern Avenue and Royal Artillery Way, in Southchurch, will be the first to be fitted with LED lighting, with engineers awaiting a delivery of 300 bulbs.

The council claims that changing the lights will reduce energy consumption by 64 per cent and therefore reduce costs.

Seven different types of bulb have been trialled in seven neighbourhoods.

Mr Terry, who represents Thorpe, added: “What’s more, the feedback we’ve received from the residents of the streets, where our chosen lamp units were trialled, was extremely positive, with residents praising the much cleaner, more targeted light.”

In January, 70 per cent of Basildon's streetlights were switched off saving County Hall £222,000 a year. The switch off in Rochford and Castle Point saved £59,000 and £64,000 respectively.

Rodney Bass, Essex County Council’s highways cabinet member, was behind the switch off, and claimed that LED lamps were too expensive and their performance over a long period of time was unknown.

Council officials there claim that it would cost £32,000 to replace 50 streetlights with the LED lighting.

The Echo revealed in May that there had been no significant increase in crime during the blackout in south Essex, but residents claim it has led to isolated incidents and an increase in fear.

Communities secretrary Eric Pickles weighed into the debate, backing County Hall’s stance.

 

Councillor expresses fear over tax rise

Streets across south Essex are plunged into darkness between midnight and 5am after Essex County Council decided to make the cuts in a bid to save cash.

Joseph and Sharon Magri, of Vowler Road, Langdon Hills, said their lives have been turned upside down since yobs smashed up their cars in a botched theft.

Mrs Magri said: “The thought that someone was right outside our house and we couldn’t see them has really shaken us up.

We’ve installed an alarm, our own security camera and my husband won’t leave for work in the early hours any more.

“When the lights go out it’s literally pitch black, you can’t see the pavement.

“It’s basically a curfew because everyone has got to be home by midnight.

“I definitely think Essex County Council should consider switching to LED lights. It might cost more upfront, but surely it’s worth it for the sake of everyones safety.”

Kerry Smith, Ukip councillor for Essex County Council's Westley Heights ward, fears the introduction of LED lights would mean taxes being increased.

He added: “County Hall has been quoted £30million for LED lights, and that is on top of the £7million they have already spent turning the lights off. I don’t think we should commit any more money."