Turn Saffron Walden's street lights back on!

10.27.39pm GMT Thu 18th Mar 2010

Local Liberal Democrat Councillors, Mike Hibbs, Patrick Boland and Richard Freeman, want to see the street lights in Saffron Walden turned back on again. At last Wednesday's Town Council meeting Mike and Richard proposed that the Council should ask Essex County Council to abandon Part Night lighting in Saffron Walden - and to replace existing street lights with more efficient lighting, thus saving energy as well. The proposal was defeated by Conservative councillors.

Mike and Richard are concerned that the switch-off leads to an increase in the fear of crime - if not an increase in crime itself. Mike said "I'm appalled that Conservative Councillors will not take this matter seriously. While there may not have been an increase in serious crime there has been a significant increase in the number of people reporting petty vandalism and disturbances at night."

"Suggesting that people should take taxis - as they did at the Council meeting - undermines the whole principle of saving energy" added Richard Freeman.