ANGRY campaigners have slammed delays over a cash bid to get streetlights back on in Tendring.

Most streetlights in the district are switched off between midnight and 5am as part of Essex County Council’s partnight scheme, which is aimed at saving money and carbon emissions.

Opposition Labour leader Ivan Henderson, of Dovercourt, put forward a proposal for Tendring Council to pay County Hall £127,000 a year to have the lights switched back.

But no decision was made at a full council meeting last month after council chairman Val Guglielmi deferred it to the council’s cabinet.

The cabinet has now deferred its recommendation until after a full report is drawn up by council officers.

Mr Henderson, who said the cash could come from a contingency fund or a two per cent increase in council tax, said the decision meant it was unlikely that lights would be switched back on this winter.

"There has been an increase in crime and fear of crime in Tendring, yet the cabinet is stalling things by asking for yet more reports when the evidence is already there,” he added.

But council leader Mick Page said the authority needed to look at the figures carefully before handing over £127,000.