Cash-strapped Conservatives at Essex County Council have agreed to go ahead with their plans to turn off street lights at midnight across Essex in a bid to put a lid on rising electricity costs. People enjoying a night out will have to keep their wits about them when they find themselves plunged into darkness on their journey home.

This was one of the concerns from local residents that Liberal Democrats raised with Conservative county councillor Rodney Bass, the cabinet member responsible for highways and transportation, when they 'called in' his decision to switch off street lights between midnight and 5am across Essex. Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes, Liberal Democrats group leader at County Hall, said:

"Whilst we are strongly in favour of economising on energy and CO2 emissions, we expect this to be balanced against anxieties about security and safety of local people who have to live, work and play in areas where lights may be switched off.

We are still unclear as to why busy urban areas with a thriving night-time economy are not part of the pilot scheme, as these areas will throw up a particular set of problems not relevant in rural areas.

We are also surprised that Cllr Bass seems to be ignoring the professional advice of the UK Lighting Board, who is recommending to government bodies that dimming lights, rather than switching them off is a more effective way of conserving energy and costs.

Cllr Bass has stated that he will consult fully with local communities and policing units to ensure that areas that should be lit stay lit, and we will be watching very carefully to reassure local residents that this does happen."