Street lights to stay on for Christmas & New Year’s Eve celebrations in Essex

Street lights will stay on across Essex overnight on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve in a gesture of festive goodwill from County Hall.

Essex County Council has announced the part-night lighting scheme will be suspended for the two nights.

Usually the lights are switched off from midnight until 5am, except in town centres and at busy road junctions, in a bid to reduce carbon emissions and council bills.

But in a move to help local businesses and residents to enjoy Christmas and New Year celebrations Rodney Bass, county councillor for highways and transportation, has agreed to the festive change.

He said: “We are happy to do this as a seasonal gesture of goodwill, and at a cost of some £11,000.

“This will enable the public to enjoy festive events including Midnight Mass and New Year’s Eve parties. The council has simply chosen to help residents celebrate Christmas and the countdown to 2015.

“There has been no change to the Essex County Council street lighting policy. There is absolutely no evidence of increased crime or accidents across the county since the implementation of part night lighting, which involves some 80% of street lights.”

The lighting scheme has proved controversial since it was rolled-out countywide over the past year.