Cash-strapped Southend Council has decided not to turn off streetlights at night to save money following objections by residents and business over safety.
Councillor Paul Collins announced the news earlier this month that he was “unable to rule out turning off streetlights” due to the council’s financial problems. Council Leader Stephen Ward had warned that the council faced bankruptcy within three years unless there were cutbacks of “non-essential expenditure”.
In response, residents and businesses raised safety concerns with many expressing fears of walking the streets after dark. Southend like many small towns has crime problems. Recently, for example, a 20-year-old was left with serious, but not life threatening, injuries as a result of a stabbing incident in the city centre that led to four arrests.
Commuters heavily rely on streetlights when making their way to work early in the morning or leaving late in the evening. Shops in the city centre open as early as 6:30am, with sunrise around 7am at this time of year. The concerns of the local community were heard by the council and so they reconsidered their approach.
It was then officially announced that the streetlights in residential and commercial areas would not be turned off overnight. It was decided that only the seafront lights and the water fountains would be affected by the cost-cutting measures.
The water fountains along the front are now being switched off on weekdays, except for school holidays over Christmas and during February half term. On weekends, fountains will be turned on from 12pm till 5pm. The streetlights along the seafront will be turned off at 10pm every evening. The council plans to re-evaluate the timings on Friday 25 March 2023.
These new, limited money-saving measures are predicted to save about £30,000 per annum.
Edited by Mike Butler.