Let There Be Light!

11.13.59pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 17th Apr 2007

Liberal Democrat Councillors Alan Dean and Anne Marchant protest with residents of Spencer Close, Stansted about Conservative plans to switch Uttlesford's street lights between midnight and 5AM.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a new direction in policy and attitude after the announcement that Conservative County Councillor Rodney Bass is resigning as cabinet member for highways and transportation at Essex County Council.

Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes, leader of the County Council's Liberal Democrat group, commented: "With Cllr Bass's departure the Liberal Democrats will be seeking changes to policies where he has been unwilling to listen to residents' concerns; a particular case in point is his decision to switch off street lights between midnight and 5am. We trust a new cabinet member will be more open to the views of the police and the community regarding public safety issues."

Alan Dean, Uttlesford District Councillor for Stansted South, added: "We have suffered long enough from Cllr Bass's arrogant approach to imposing a midnight 'lights out' in Stansted streets and other parts of Uttlesford. I hope but cannot be confident, that a change of personnel will bring a change in policy. Essex Conservatives seemed set on the switch-off when we met their scrutiny committee in March. Let's keep our fingers crossed they can find an enlightened member!"