STREETLIGHTS could be turned back on across the whole of Tendring, if County Hall bosses refuse to allow the blackout only to be lifted in Clacton and Harwich.

Most lights are turned off between 1am and 5am as part of Essex County Council’s money-saving scheme.

It led to Tendring Council setting aside £160,000 to pay County Hall to switch streetlights back on across the district.

A consultation found residents want lights back on in urban areas including Clacton, Jaywick, Holland-on-Sea and Brightlingsea, while villagers in rural areas want them to stay off.

Tendring is now writing to County Hall to ask how much it will cost to switch lights back on in specific areas.

A Labour amendment was also passed, directing Tendring Council leader Neil Stock to push ahead with paying for lights to be put back on district-wide if the county council refuses to lift the blackout only in towns.

Mr Stock said: “None of us believe Tendring Council should be paying for streetlights to go on. It’s an Essex County Council function – they are the streetlighting authority.

“We don’t even have powers to do it – they should be doing it. It is a real concern to me that, as we look down the barrel of massive cut-backs to public sector funding, are we as district council going to be asked to pick up the bill when other authorities decide to make cuts?

“Will we be asked to pay for police to stay on the beat, for libraries to stay open, to pay for fire engines? I certainly hope not.”

Last month, Harlow reached an agreement with County Hall to keep its streetlights on.

But the county council has made it clear that it will not cut a deal to switch lights back on unless a four-year plan is in place.

Tendring Labour leader Ivan Henderson said: “When we decided to put the money aside earlier, it was intended that money should be made available every year.

“Therefore, there is no reason that a deal could not be struck for four years.

“We made it clear to residents that a 4p per week increase in council tax per household could pay for it – and people are happy to pay that.”