Street lights

HOUSING estate residents have voiced concern after street lights were switched off overnight, plunging it into darkness.

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Street lights on Sudbury’s Chaucer estate were switched off between midnight and 5am on Monday, as part of a county council initiative that is expected to save more than £550,000 per year on energy bills countywide.

But a resident of Chaucer estate, the scene of two recent burglaries, said they should have been told in advance that the lights would go out.

The man, who did not want to be named, said: “There have been a couple of burglaries in this area this month so it is not a good idea to do this to us without warning. There are many older residents living here who cannot afford to have sensor lighting installed, so the blackout will have caught them unawares.”

Deputy town clerk Jacqui Howells said the town council had received several calls from residents reporting faults with the street lights because they were unaware the trial had started.

She added: “We were warned some time ago that the trial to switch the lights off between midnight and 5am would be carried out in three phases, but then there has been nothing since.

“I think it took us all a bit by surprise when people started calling up to say the lights weren’t working.”

She confirmed that the first phase of the switch-off in Sudbury was scheduled for January 23, with the second on January 30, and the final area on February 6.

Sudbury police Inspector Paul Crick confirmed there had been two burglaries in the Chaucer estate during January, which was unusual for that particular area.

He said: “Statistically from what we have seen in other areas where the switch-off has been trialled, I don’t think there has been an increase in crime as a result.

“It will be interesting to see how it plays out as regards things like anti-social behaviour where there is an element of belief that offenders like to be able to see the results of what they had done.

“It is also important to remember that we have the ability to go to the council and ask for the lights to be switched back on if there is a problem in a specific area. It’s early days for Babergh and we will just have to wait and see how it goes.”

A county council spokeswoman said the town council had been provided with posters and a map of locations where the trial would take place. No letters had been sent to residents because of the cost. She added: “We are sensitive to local needs, which is why we’ve made it possible for street lighting to be left on for longer periods where it’s necessary for safety.”