CAMPAIGNING councillors have spearheaded a new task force to get street lights switched on again.

A cross-party group is being set up by Rochford District Council to come up with different options to ensure the lights are turned on again.

Jo McPherson, Conservative councillor responsible for community, has put herself forward to lead the group, which she says is needed to tackle the fear of crime.

The council’s opposition leader, John Mason, wants to go further and pay Essex County Council £59,000 to put them back on across the district, but Mrs McPherson doesn’t agree.

She said: “We are, and we have been, monitoring crime figures since the part street night lighting scheme went Essex-wide.

“While crime has not increased, people’s fear of crime has increased and that is something that we need to look at.

“However, it would be awful to promise to put the lights back on one year, because we had the money, then for things to change and for them to go off again the next year.

“We need other options so as things change the lights are not off and on, so I would like to chair a member advisory group to address our resident’s issues.”

Mr Mason and Hullbridge councillor, Michael Hoy, identified savings in areas of insurance, third party software, training and legal services to ensure the district council could cover the cost of the street lights being switched back on.

Mr Mason said the group needs to address people’s general concerns about personal safety in the dark and not just a fear of crime.

He said: “We welcome the formation of a council advisory group to look at our resident’s issues “Lots of people are concerned about just getting around in the dark though, it is not just a fear of crime.

“The trains still run until after midnight and people are concerned about walking home in the dark because they might trip or fall.”