The Institute of Lighting Engineers (ILE) has published a set of guidelines to help local authorities tackle CO2 emissions and reduce their energy bills - and expressly states that turning off street lights is not the way to achieve this.

The guidelines have been published in response to Essex County Council's recent decision to switch off some of its street lights, a decision that was opposed by the Liberal Democrats. Cllr Keith Francis, Essex County Council Liberal Democrats highways and transportation spokesman, said:

"The ILE's expert advice to local authorities backs up all the points we made to Cllr Bass (Conservative cabinet member responsible for highways and transportation) when we called in this decision earlier this month. The ILE rightly states that street lighting reduces people's fear of crime, prevents night time personal injury and promotes evening social and leisure activities.

Liberal Democrats strongly champion an overall and permanent decrease in the carbon footprint that we produce here in Essex and, as these guidelines show, a reduction in street lighting will not be kinder to the environment in the medium to long term. A lack of lighting is likely to encourage greater car use as people will not want to walk around in the dark, causing more damage to the environment than the lighting.

The ILE recommends dimming lights rather than switching them off altogether. This will reduce light pollution and energy costs and also give residents the security they want to enable them to take part in evening social and leisure activities outside their home.

This is yet another ill thought out proposal that will not achieve its aims and will end up costing the taxpayer even more."

Harlow's Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Chris Millington is encouraging local residents to sign a petition calling for one home for the European Parliament.

At the moment, while the European Parliament sits most of the time in Brussels, its constitution requires it to spend twelve days a year (one day a month) sitting at Strasbourg - at a cost to taxpayers across Europe of 200 million euros a year.

Swedish Liberal MEP Cecilia Malstrom has started a petition to end this requirement, and needs 1 million signatures to force a discussion on the issue. With over 925,000 signatures already, she is within striking distance of the target. Chris Millington says:

"If anyone hasn't yet signed this petition and would like to, please visit the campaign website where there is more background information and an online petition form."

Local Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman Lorna Spenceley has welcomed plans unveiled today for a fairer, greener and simpler tax system. She said:

"These proposals would mean lower tax bills for most households in Harlow, as well as tackling inequality and environmental damage."

The proposals published today by the Liberal Democrat Tax Commission would

• Save a typical pensioner couple around £1,600 a year through proposals including scrapping council tax


• Save a typical double-earning couple around £1,500 a year through measures including a 2p cut in the basic rate of income tax


• Lift two million people on low income out of tax completely across Britain by reducing the 10p tax rate to zero


• Take 1.3 million people out of the top rate of income tax nationally by raising the threshold to £50,000 a year

Mrs Spenceley said:

"The current system of taxation is not fair. The poorest 20 per cent of households pay a bigger share of their income in tax than the richest 20 per cent. Wealth inequality has actually risen since Labour came to power.

These Liberal Democrat proposals will make the tax system fairer for those on low and middle incomes. Specifically this will benefit the vast majority of pensioners, key public sector workers and young professionals.

Tax cuts for the majority will be paid for by the wealthy and those with environmentally damaging lifestyles.

I look forward to supporting these proposals when they are debated and voted on at the Liberal Democrat Conference in Brighton in September."

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."

Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Cllr Eleanor Macy has helped launch the new vision for the Town Park. The proposals include

• a new boating lake with circular walk and arts trail


• an improved showground for larger events, with a gateway to Edinburgh Way and new paths


• a new cafe and formal gardens at Spurriers


• a bridge link between the Stort and the part including a possible new boating marina


• ecological and access improvements along the River Stort corridor


• a new Pets' Corner with improved educational facility, public toilets, car parking and paddocks


• an improved adventure playground and inclusive play area for smaller children


• a new bog garden and an improved Newfoundland garden


• improved car park and cherry orchard


• the new skateboard park


• tennis courts


• a water play area and cascasde to water gardens


• an improved Peace Wood with better access


• new boundary treatment and gateway to the Town Centre


• improved specimen gardens and arboretum.

This is the fifth round of consultation for residents and town park users to have their say. A lottery bid
is to be submitted after Christmas to help begin this long term vision.

A new website has been published for residents to see the proposals in more detail; they will also be on display in the Environment Marquee at the Town Show on Sunday 3 September, where council officers and experts will be available to talk to.

A Home Office minister visited Harlow today to help the police and Harlow Council crush some of the mini motos seized during a recent crack-down.

In an event that attracted national publicity, Joan Ryan MP helped crush some of the motorbikes picked up when councillors, including Liberal Democrats Ian Jackson and Lesley Rideout, accompanied the police on a two-week campaign against nuisance vehicles.

Liberal Democrats at Essex County Council have 'called in' the Conservatives' decision to turn off street lights in Essex from midnight until 5am. The Tories claim that turning off street lights during the night will save money and energy. Cllr Mike Mackrory, Essex County Council Liberal Democrats deputy leader, said:

"Whilst we welcome any initiative on saving energy, we do not expect that to be at the expense of our residents' security and safety in the community generally. We need to be clear about the extent of the residential areas affected. We will now have an opportunity to meet with the cabinet member responsible to discuss our concerns."

Under council procedures, the proposal will not go any further until the meeting has taken place next week.