Dutch Quarter streetlights to remain on for next six weeks

Essex County Council has agreed to the request by Colchester Council - who were backed by Essex Police - for almost 40 lights across six roads in the Dutch Quarter to remain on all night until January 31.

The deal means a number of lights in Nunns Road, West Stockwell Street, Maidenburgh Street, Northgate Street, Quakers Alley, and Williams Walk will stay on overnight. They would normally be turned off between 1am and 5am between Tuesday to Sunday or midnight until 5am on Monday mornings, as part of the county’s part night lighting scheme.

Colchester Council's public safety boss Mike Lilley (Lab): “Residents and businesses in the area have raised concerns about the impact they felt having the streetlights being turned off in these areas was having.

“I am delighted that working together with the police and the county council we have addressed those concerns and have come up with a solution which means these roads will be lit during the dark winter evenings.”

Chief Insp Shaun Kane, district commander for Colchester, said: “In terms of community safety considerations, public confidence and reassurance, suspending the lights switching off overnight in certain parts of the town centre has my full support.

“Research suggests that there is no correlation between crime and whether street lights are on or off.

"However, I am supportive of the council’s move to keep the lights on for the festive period as part of a number of measures to keep people in the town centre safe.”

Essex County Council member for infrastructure Kevin Bentley (Con) added: “At a time of year when there are more people out and about very late at night, we are happy to respond to requests to keep the lights on for longer, benefitting both residents and the local night-time economy.”