ANGRY district councillors have put forward proposals to pay £127,000 a year to County Hall so it will reverse its controversial streetlight switch-off in Tendring.

The Labour group on Tendring Council will put forward plans to have the streetlights switched back on in a bid to cut crime and help residents feel safer.

Ivan Henderson, leader of the opposition Labour group, hit out at Conservative-run Essex County Council after its part-night lighting scheme saw streetlights switched off between midnight and 5am in a bid to save cash and carbon emissions.

Mr Henderson said: “The Tories at County Hall are still refusing to reverse this dreadful policy in spite of the harm it is doing.

“We do not believe that local residents should go through the winter with the lights out at night and this is a way of switching them back on at a cost of only 4p per household per week.

“It’s wrong that people will have to pay twice, but their safety and peace of mind is too important not to take immediate action."

Mr Henderson said the £127,000 figure is the sum the county council expects to save in Tendring by switching off the lights.

He said the cash for this year would come from the council’s reserves, but that following years could be funded by an increase in council tax – which he said at worst would be equivalent to £2.04 per household per year.

Mick Page, leader of Tendring Council, said: “We will look at the idea and will see how we can take it forward.

“We will talk to Essex County Council over the practicalities and whether it’s achievable or not.”

The motion will go before the next meeting of the council on November 25.