OPPOSITION councillors are furious after proposals for LED streetlighting across Essex were blocked.

Lib Dem county councillors called for funding in next year’s budget to convert the county’s lights, in an effort to save energy and cash.

It is estimated that LED lights could cut County Hall’s streetlight electricity bill by up to 80 per cent.

But county council highways boss Rodney Bass said installing LED lights would cost £60million.

The motion was rejected after Tory county councillors – including Tendring’s Mick Page, Andy Wood and Carlo Guglielmi – voted against the motion.

Mr Wood, a Clacton county councillor, said: “At this point, I just don’t think we can justify spending that amount of money, particularly from the point of view of my area and my residents.

“At the moment, I’m more concerned with them having food on the table at Christmas time.”

But Mr Wood said he was not against the idea of LED lights and was trying to convince Essex County Council to trial them in the Tendring district.

Tendring Council Labour opposition leader Ivan Henderson said: “I am unhappy Tendring’s Conservative councillors went along with the party whip and voted against the motion for LEDs, despite some of them having spoken in favour of them before.”