CAMPAIGNERS are demanding streetlights are turned back on at night across south Essex.

It comes as Basildon Council has agreed £146,000 plans to get the lights back on.

Residents and campaigners say it must be carried out in other areas in a bid to reduce crimes rates.

Robert Wilson, 81, of Long Road, Canvey said: “I strongly believe there’s a link between crime and the lack of street lighting.

“Crime on Canvey has rocketed in recent years and I think it’s down to the lighting.

“We would all feel so much safer if our lights were back on.

“What people don’t think about is the vulnerable people such as the elderly and even disabled people, who will feel worried about going out after dark without our street lights turned on.

“It’s a question of safety and yet it doesn’t seem to be enough reason.”

Dianna Watts, 45, of Homestead Gardens, Hadleigh said: “I have to applaud Basildon Council for putting the lights back on.

“We need other councils to follow suit.

“I think there will be an outcry from residents who are demanding we get the same.

“I wouldn’t go out late at night and it’s due to the lack of street lighting.

“I think it makes you more vulnerable to crime and people who want to cause trouble or worse.

“We never should have had the lights turned off anyway. I don’t know if there is proof crime has increased, but it certainly feels that way.

“I know residents would certainly feel a lot safer as well. “We have a lot of homes being targeted at night, and the darkness suits the criminals.

“If spending extra can improve the feeling of safety I am all for it.”

Peter Banks, 51, from Badger Hall Avenue, Benfleet said: “It not good enough and we shouldn’t have to put up with it.

“What do we all pay our taxes is for.

“This money from our taxes should go towards this.

“Our community safety is so important, yet it seems to me council’s just don’t seem to care.

“The lighting being off gives criminals a chance to run riot and cause havoc on our streets.

“We deserve better and the longer it goes on it will help create no go zones.”

Following on from Basildon Council’s proposals for more street lighting, Canvey Independent councillor David Blackwell is also pushing to have a similar deal.

He said it will help improve community safety.

Southend Council, which controls its own highways, did not following Essex County Council’s plans on cutting street lighting.

Martin Terry, Independent councillor for community safety said: “When the county council decided to turn off the street lights due to austerity, we were strongly opposed to it due to crime but also community safety.

“We received a Government grant and decided to change our lights to LED bulbs so we could keep our lights on, reduced our electric costs and our carbon footprint.”

Mr Terry said he is adamant that adequate lighting is important to community safety.

However, a report published by Roger Hirst, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex states there is no evidence part-night lighting has any impact on crime levels.

The report states these findings support previous research carried out by Essex Police and that of a national, independent study.

In the report, Mr Hirst, said: “We have not been able to identify a noticeable increase or decrease in crime or road safety issues as a result of part night lighting.

“I have heard that many people feel say they feel safer when the lights are on but councils need to take decisions on hard evidence and the data shows no overall impact on crime or road safety of lights being turned off at night.”

A spokesman for Essex County Council said: “Our approach is characterised by a willingness to work with all district, borough and city councils seeking an agreement on funding night lighting.”

The lights were originally turned off between 1am and 5am after a trial in Maldon and Uttlesford and an agreement in 2015.

Since then crime rates have risen but a link between the two has not been proven.