A STREET light is finally set to be fixed - after it was broken for THREE years.

After numerous complaints Essex County Council replaced the lamppost in Greenstead Road, Colchester but on the wrong side of the road.

The blunder looks set to be finally sorted by the end of March after being highlighted by the Gazette.

Greenstead Road resident Wendy Buck, who wrote the letters to the paper, said: “Happy Birthday to street lamp number four in Greenstead Road, broken for three years since the February 13 2016 and still not repaired.”

Mrs Buck said at one point a new lamppost was erected.

“The only problem was it was on the wrong side of the road, much further down and in an already highly illuminated area.

She said: “Really you couldn’t make this sort of thing up.

“The situation has exacerbated in the road, however. In early December the lamppost directly next to the original broken one went out and on January 12 the following lamppost along also went out. We now have three lamps not working.

“There is now a large section of the road in total pitch black, this includes an area where there is a bus stop, which means people are having to wait for the University/Wivenhoe bus, in dangerous and frightening conditions.

“There has also been a number of nasty trips and falls on the uneven paths. How long before someone falls into the path of a vehicle?”

Mrs Buck said she and various neighbours had complained to the council without success.

Tim Young, Colchester councillor for the area, said he stepped in after Mrs Buck brought the matter to his attention last April.

He then chased it up again after reading her letters in the paper.

Mr Young said: “It is pretty shoddy customer service from Essex Highways. At least they have got somewhere but it shouldn’t have taken that long really.”

A county council spokesman said: “This damaged column, which was made safe in 2016, is due to be replaced by the end of March.”