A COUNCILLOR is calling for Essex County Council to find £63,000 a year to keep Brentwood’s streetlights on all night.

Lib Dem county councillor for Brentwood South, David Kendall, does not believe the financial saving made by the county switching off the streetlights between midnight and 5am is worth the risk to residents’ safety.

He has submitted a motion to be discussed at a full Brentwood Council meeting next Wednesday to ask Essex County Council to find £63,000 a year, which has been identified by the county as the amount saved by switching the lights off.

Mr Kendall said: “I do not believe the £63k saving the county council is making by switching off Brentwood’s streetlights is worth it.

“In my view, the safety of Brentwood pedestrians, motorists and residents living in fear of crime should always come first.

“Last year, Brentwood residents paid £33million to Essex County Council in council tax.

“It is time more of that money was spent back here in Brentwood and they can make a start by switching our lights back on, repairing our potholes and bringing our roads and pavements up to the standard residents deserve.”

The motion, which has been seconded by the leader of Brentwood Council, Barry Aspinell, adds: “The amount to be spent is to be taken from the county council’s reserves or other funds or savings that the county council sees fit to use for this purpose or through the county council seeking funding from the Green Investment Bank to upgrade all of the county’s streetlights.

“The Green Investment Bank has £3.8billion to make the country’s infrastructure greener and stronger and has stated that councils making this switch will be able to repay this funding quickly and then make up to 80 per cent savings on electricity.

“This council believes the safety of Brentwood pedestrians, motorists and residents living in fear of crime needs to come first and calls on the county council to get our streetlights back on as quickly as possible.”