SEVENTY per cent of street lights in Basildon could be switched off between midnight and 5am as Essex County Council tries to save £10million.

County Hall bosses have approached Basildon councillors about the blackout proposals after running successful trials in Maldon and Saffron Walden.

The county council now wants to roll out proposals across the rest of Essex within the next 18 months to two years, with Basildon among one of the first boroughs to be approached.

Under the plans only around 30 per cent of lights will remain on throughout the night, along main roads, at roundabouts, in subways and alleyways leading to estates and in areas of high use such as sports centres.

County Hall is promising consultation with police, councillors and residents over which lights stay on.

But local Tories are fuming, with one councillor claiming the county council is putting cost savings ahead of safety.

David Abrahall, councillor for Pitsea South East, said: “Quite honestly, I am disgusted. This cannot be inflicted upon us.

“My fear is for young girls walking back from the Festival Leisure Park at 2.30am, who will walk into an estate and total darkness. Who knows who could be lurking about?

“Safety comes before anything, you can’t put money above safety.”

Mr Abrahall also said Norman Hume, cabinet member for highways and transformation, has made it clear if agreements cannot be reached the switch-off will be imposed regardless.

Mr Hume defended the scheme and said there would be a “full and proper” consultation and nothing was imminent.

He said: “In the pilot areas, the two main fears were it would lead to more traffic accidents and crime. However, we found there were no personal injury accidents in the areas and crime actually fell.”

He said there would be discussions with police, residents and councillors on where lights could remain, and once the scheme covered Essex, savings of £10million would be made.

However, if Basildon councillors refuse to cooperate, he added: “If we come across a situation which is unacceptable, and there is no good reason, we would turn off the lights. That is not intended to sound aggressive, but that is the situation.”

The county council is preparing a business case as it will need to purchase a new control system so lights can set when to be on and off.