Pickles: I love having our street lights off

8:00am Tuesday 29th April 2014 in News

ERIC Pickles has dismissed calls to switch Basildons street lights back on, saying he wouldnt do it on the off chance someone wants to get out and do aerobics at 3am.

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government was attacked by councillors from his own party over his comments about the controversial part-night lighting scheme, which involves street lights being turned off between midnight and 5am.

They were made as he launched the Conservative Partys election campaign for Basildon Council on Friday.

Mr Pickles, MP for Brentwood and Ongar, said: Essex County Council has been immensely brave because the easy thing would be to keep the lights on.

In a time when we are on the cusp with regards to our electricity supply, we cant have lights burning all night on the off chance someone wants to get out and do aerobics at 3am.

I love it because I am economy- minded. Its saving a phenomenal amount of money, its decreased crime because burglars love ambient lighting, its nice to see the night sky and, as someone who lives in a main street that has had its lights cut off, I can get a good nights sleep.

Questioned about the high number of shift workers in Basildon who come and go during the night, Mr Pickles said: I dont believe that someone who is working in shifts is scared to go out because theres no light.

We have moved on a bit in the world. It makes a nice story, but the reality is people get on with their lives.

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Pickles: I love having our street lights off