A call has been made for Tendring District Council (TDC) to pay for street lights to remain on 24/7 until County Hall is convinced to reverse its part night lighting policy.

A call has been made for Tendring District Council (TDC) to pay for street lights to remain on 24/7 until County Hall is convinced to reverse its part night lighting policy.

The Labour group on the district council has tabled a motion for the next full meeting which would commit the authority to paying County Hall to keep the street lights on.

It follows strong opposition to Essex County Council’s (ECC) policy, introduced in Tendring in early 2014, to switch off all of its street lights between midnight and 5am.

An exception is made for those lighting town centre streets, areas covered by CCTV, or at dangerous road junctions and roundabouts.

The move saves ECC an estimated £127,000 annually in Tendring, which would have to be funded by TDC if the motion is approved.

Labour proposes to fund the payment from council reserves for the rest of the current financial year, and then through either council tax, reserves or a mixture of both.

The payment would remain in place only until ECC gives in to pressure and axes the part night lighting policy.

The Labour group on Harlow District Council has tabled a similar motion and says it has the support of its local Conservative group.

Ivan Henderson, Labour leader at TDC, said: “The Tories at County Hall are still refusing to reverse this dreadful policy in spite of the harm it is doing.

“We do not believe that local residents should go through the winter with the lights out at night and this is a way of switching them back on at a cost of only 4p per household per week.

“It’s wrong that people will have to pay twice but their safety and peace of mind is too important not to take immediate action.”

He called on Conservatives in Tendring to put their political differences aside and back the motion in the interest of residents.

Mr Henderson added: “We must keep the pressure on the Tories running ECC to reverse the policy but until they do I expect all TDC councillors to support our motion and get our lights switched back on.

“This is achievable and affordable and, while it shouldn’t be necessary, we cannot let this situation continue.”

A Conservative cabinet member at TDC said the group would be discussing the motion and its financial implications ahead of a full debate at the council meeting.