A STREET light in Burnham which hasn’t been used for seven years is finally set to see the light.

In 2011, a lamp post was installed on Foundry Lane in Burnham to guide people from the road to the railway crossing, with the route then leading up to Springfield Road.

However, due to rowing between council bosses over who should pay for the light to be connected to the mains, it has never been assigned and thus the crossing as remained in darkness.

Essex County Council and Maldon District Council have refused to connect the lamppost to the mains because of an estimated £5,000 cost.

Many residents highlighted how dangerous the crossing was at night, with no lighting on Foundry Lane, the crossing itself, or the path leading up to Springfield Road on the other side.

However, at a Burnham Town Council meeting on Tuesday, town mayor Bob Calver told members a contractor had been in touch about installing a solar panel on the lamppost which would be considerably cheaper.

He said: “I’ve had some meetings with a lighting contractor who has inspected the site, and has come back to us with a robust, affordable and green solution to light it with the installation of a solar panel.

“This has been an ongoing issue for so many years but now finally I’m pleased we now have a good option to give it some light.

“The panel would mean the lamppost only requires a cost of £80 per year for maintenance, considerably cheaper than the £750 it would cost per year to keep it hooked up to the grid.”

Members unanimously voted in favour of the plan. The mayor later stated that the cost of installing the solar panel will be £1,150. The installation is will take place in the coming weeks.