STREET lights are set to be switched back on across Castle Point after the county council agreed to a trial using energy efficient bulbs.

Essex County Council will install LED street lights in several streets later this year and keep them on all night.

If the new bulbs save enough money and energy, they could be rolled out across the borough, reversing the policy of turning lights off from midnight to 5am.

County council leader David Finch and councillor responsible for highways Rodney Bass agreed to the U-turn after an intervention from Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris.

Mrs Harris said: “The part-night lighting scheme is an issue many people in our borough care about.

“We don’t know yet howmany streets will be included in the scheme and I still fully support efforts of residents and our council in keeping all the lights on, but this is definitely progress in the right direction.”

Mr Bass said: “Rebecca has put forward a very strong case and I can confirmCastle Point will now be part of the LED trial.”

South Essex residents poured scorn on the county council, whose cabinet is dominated by councillors from the north of the county, after it opted to trial LED lighting in Colchester, Maldon, Burnham, Saffron Walden, Dunmow and Stansted Mountfitchet.

Sarah Raven, from the Save Our Street Lights – Castle Point Facebook group, said: “It’s a good start and it’s encouraging for the campaign to know things can be changed.”