Saffron Walden Town Council budgets to turn the street lights back on again

CAMPAIGNERS in Saffron Walden have been given hope after the town council voted to set aside �5000 in their budget to switch street lights in residential areas back on during the night time. Essex County Council s (ECC s) energy-saving scheme to turn off

CAMPAIGNERS in Saffron Walden have been given hope after the town council voted to set aside �5000 in their budget to switch street lights in residential areas back on during the night time.

Essex County Council's (ECC's) energy-saving scheme to turn off street lights in the town between midnight and 5am has caused concern among some residents that it has led to an increase in crime.

Last Wednesday campaigners from Winstanley Road petitioned councillors at meeting of Saffron Walden Town Council - which, in principal, could use its own funds to pay for the lights to be switched back on.

Cllr Richard Freeman proposed that �5000 be set aside to turn some of the town's street lights on throughout the night.

He said: "The environmental cost could be fully offset by buying the electricity from a green energy supplier. I'm delighted that my colleagues agreed to my proposal. Hopefully we can do something to allay the growing fear of crime among local residents and make Saffron Walden a safer place."

However Cllr David Watson criticised the decision saying that it had added an extra �5000 to the council's budget despite no decision having been made as to whether they would actually pay for the lights to be turned back on or not.