MIKE Hibbs, the Mayor of Saffron Walden, states that a number of people have complained to him about the council s practical efforts to save ratepayers money by switching the street lights in the town off from midnight until 5am. He believes that they nee

MIKE Hibbs, the Mayor of Saffron Walden, states that a number of people have complained to him about the council's practical efforts to save ratepayers money by switching the street lights in the town off from midnight until 5am.

He believes that they need to be on so that people who have been drinking can find their way home, that taxi drivers can presumably see them and that some people are comforted by the illumination whilst in their beds at night.

He cites the fear of crime as a valid reason for lighting our deserted streets.

Whatever our particular fears, whether of crime, spiders or frogs, they are very real to those who suffer and I have some sympathy. But to extrapolate that to the diminishment of the quality of life of the many, by which I mean either higher council taxes or reduction in services to the needy, as a result is absurd. There is only one pot of money and what is in it is getting less by the moment.

By all means maintain full street lighting in Saffron Walden Town if those who benefit pay for that privilege. I live in a village where there is no street lighting whether I like it or not. I see no reason why I should pay in my rates for this wasteful use of energy for comfort purposes.

In the vein of an earlier letter on this subject may I recommend early nights, a cup of cocoa and for the faint hearted a shot of whisky to go with it - never mind long late night walks from pubs.

Anthony Robertson, Arkesden