Campaigners are demanding streetlights are switched back on at night across south Essex after Basildon Council struck a deal to pay to end part-time night lighting.

Families say switching back on the street lights will improve safety and reduce crime rates.

It comes as Basildon Council struck a deal to pay Essex County Council to put the lights back on.

Now, families say other councils must follow suit to make our communities safer.

Danielle Brooks, 33, of Long Road, Canvey, said: “We never should have had the lights turned off anyway.

“I don’t know if there is proof crime has increased, but it certainly feels that way.

“I know residents would certainly feel a lot safer as well. We have a lot of homes being targeted at night, and the darkness suits the criminals.

“If spending extra can improve the feeling of safety, I am all for it.”

Robert Miles, 56, of High Road, Hadleigh, said: “If Basildon Council can do it, then so can other councils, such as Castle Point and Rochford.

“I feel the council bosses are compromising our safety and we cannot and will not stop until we have our lights back on.

“I applaud Basildon Council for listening to its residents and serving them, as a council should do.

“I think having the lights on will help ensure vulnerable people do not feel so uneasy about leaving their homes at night.

“It can only be a good thing, I still will never understand why the lights were turned off.

“It seems to me that the councils are putting their savings and cash above the safety of us, as families and residents.

“I know everyone has been talking about this for years, and now as Basildon has its lights back on the debate and anger has resurfaced.”

Maureen Platts, 44, of Love Lane, Rayleigh, said: “I think we, as residents, need to be contacting the councillors to put pressure on them to get the lights on.

“I think the more we push and make a fuss, they will have to listen us.

“This will not be going away and we will continue to shout and push the council to get this sorted.

“It should not be one rule for Basildon and another for Castle Point and Rochford.

“I know there’s a petition across Rochford, and I urge as many people as possible to sign this and get behind it.

“We will not give up on this.”

Castle Point Council is set to consider plans to urge Essex County Council to replace the borough’s streetlights with LED bulbs and use the savings to fund the keeping on of all street lights in the borough throughout the night.

The council will be deciding on the plans at a meeting on Wednesday, November 20.

Rochford District Council is also being urged to consider similar steps to Castle Point Council, by residents and campaigners.

A petition has been set up, signed by more than 150 people, to stop streetlights being switched off between 1am and 5am across Rochford district, including Rayleigh. The area has seen a rise in antisocial behaviour.

The petition states: “This is the first step in reducing crime.”

Kevin Bentley, Essex County Council deputy leader and councillor for infrastructure, said: “This is a conversation for Castle Point and Rochford councils to have with their residents at this stage, but if they want this to happen, I am more than happy to enter discussions with them, as we have done successfully in other parts of Essex.

“These discussions will also need to address the bigger picture, which is about the cost to councils and taxpayers, and of course environmental factors, before any deals can be done.”

The full-year cost for the lights being switched back on across the Basildon borough is currently £275,000 a year.

However, council bosses say, this should come down when the borough’s lights are upgraded to more cost effective and efficient LED lights – due to be done by Essex County Council in 2020/21.

The councils have agreed to fund all-night lighting throughout Basildon until March 2020, with the intention to agree in February 2020 to four years’ further payments to keep the lights on all night until March 2024.