Council to switch street lights on again at night

After 11 years, street lights could be on again through the night in Castle Point

Street lights will be on again through the night in part of a county after a borough council consulted residents.

Castle Point Borough Council hopes the switch on will happen by the end of October - 11 years after Essex County Council introduced part-night lighting.

The public consultation saw 3,887 residents submit their views - and 83% were in favour of keeping the lights on all night.

"The consultation results are clear. Our residents want overnight lighting restored, and we will act on that feedback," said Stephen Mountford, a People's Independent Party councillor who is the cabinet member for resources.

He added: "This decision reflects our commitment to delivering on our election promises and consulting with our residents and ensuring that Castle Point remains a safe and welcoming place for everyone, both day and night."

Street light hours were originally reduced by the county council to cut costs and energy consumption.

In the Castle Point consultation, the most frequently stated concerns about lack of overnight lights were:

• Crime prevention (81.5%)

• Personal safety at night (78.7%)

• Visibility during emergencies or deliveries (59.7%)

Castle Point Borough Council has said it will now fund the lighting and instruct Essex County Council to leave the lights on all night throughout the borough by the end of October.

In June, Basildon councillors voted to reintroduce all-night street lighting across their borough, at an estimated cost of £120,000 per year.

In February 2014, Essex County Council switched street lighting off across the county between the hours of midnight and 05:00. The times were later revised to 01:00 to 05:00.