COUNCIL bosses have insisted streetlights will stay on in Southend despite it contributing almost half-a-million of the staggering £14million deficit.

The Conservatives, who took over the council following May’s elections, have revealed previous predictions of a £7.6million deficit are way off the mark.

The council’s financial black hole is set to hit £14million this year - with street lighting contributing to a £475,000 overspend on utilities.

However, despite this, council bosses have insisted the service will not be cut, and streetlights will stay switched on.

Kevin Buck, Conservative councillor responsible for highways, transport, and parking, said: “The Conservative administration is absolutely committed to keeping the streetlights switched on in Southend.

“Whilst energy costs have been a challenge recently, we are now seeing them coming down again and we expect this overspend to reduce.

“Keeping the streetlights on is essential for the safety and wellbeing of all within the city, especially as we start to enter the autumn and winter darker nights and I know the police and security services support this position.”

There is also an expected £125,000 spend on street lighting columns, primarily due to knockdowns from vehicle strikes.

The streetlights in Southend have been dimmed since 2014.

Tony Cox, Conservative councillor, and leader of Southend Council said: “No, it won’t be cut.

“I think the dimming that is there at the moment is bad enough. There is a deficit, but we know the energy prices are going down.

“They are important to keep on. I would have loved to have had them back on at full power. I thought it was disgraceful at the time, and I think it is disgraceful now that they were dimmed in secret without anybody knowing or having any oversight.

“But at the moment, what I don’t have is the £350,000 to put them back on at full power. If I did, I would. But they will be staying as they are at present.”