Lights Out For Saffron Walden

10.39.51pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 13th Jun 2007

Liberal Democrats Helen Baker and Patrick Boland discuss the Conservatives' great street light switch-off plan.

Liberal Democrats at County Hall today (12th June) challenged the Conservatives who run Essex County Council over their decision to turn off street lights in Saffron Walden from July this year. The council is proposing a pilot scheme that will leave large sections of the town in darkness from midnight until 5am every day.

Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes, leader of the Liberal Democrat group of county councillors, said: "We have challenged the policy of switching off street lights at night across Essex already when the initial decision was taken in July last year. Since then we have also challenged details of the pilot in Uttlesford (excluding Saffron Walden) announced in March and now the newest scheme in Saffron Walden in the light of concerns raised by local residents.

"We are particularly concerned that the absence of street lights at night will reduce the quality of life for some residents who are unhappy travelling home in the dark. Fear of crime is something real for the people who experience it and, even though it may be difficult to monitor, we have asked the cabinet member to ensure that fear of crime is an important part of the review of this scheme."