Basildon: Calls For Borough To Be Unitary Authority

2 February 2014, 00:00

Councillor Abrahall made the statement in reaction to plans to switch-off streetlights overnight.

Basildon should break away from Essex County Council and become a unitary authority, according to one of its senior councillors.

David Abrahall, who represents Pitsea South East, made the statement in response to the decision to turn street lights off between midnight and 5am. 

He said: "Basildon is big enough to control situations like this and make key decisions. 

"Why should people at County Hall, who really rarely even come to Basildon, make key decisions which affect the safety of the people of this borough." 

The proposal was due to come into force from tonight but it has been delayed after the decision was called in. Streetlights across Essex are set to be switched off overnight, a move the county council says will save money and reduce carbon emissions. 

However, Mr Abrahall has told Heart it will have a negative impact in Basildon: "In Basildon we are trying to attract a night-time economy. 

"How on earth would it be beneficial to turn off streetlights, which businesses are going to want to come to Basildon knowing after midnight people are not going to be able to find their way around the streets?" 

A spokesperson for Essex County Council (ECC) said: "We have been running a part-night lighting scheme in Maldon and Uttlesford since 2007. The pilot scheme demonstrated no negative impact on crime statistics or road collisions as a result of the changes."