County officers dismiss town residents' fears over lights switch-off
Thursday, 29th March 2012.
Haverhill residents are causing unnecessary fuss over the switch-off of street lights, according to county council officers.
Residents from various parts of the town have complained to town councillors about their fears, but when Suffolk County Council officers have been contacted they have given dismissive replies.
Recently, Haverhill's new town clerk Will Austin received such a cheeky letter froma county council officer on the subject that the town council wrote a letter of complaint to the officer's boss.
The town council had asked for an officer to attend one of their meetings and explain the money-saving switch-off, which has reduced areas of the town to pitch blackness between midnight and 5am.
In declining to attend, the officer wrote sarcastically about the amount of fuss being caused by the town council over an issue which was not causing such concern anywhere else.
Mr Austin described this as a 'condescending' reply, inappropriate to such a serious issue and members followed up with a complaint to a more senior officer.
At Tuesday night's town council meeting, town mayor Cllr Maureen Byrne said two more issues of fears about lack of street lighting had been brought to her attention.
One was on the Clements estate where three vehicles were set on fire in one night and residents dared not go out to investigate because of the darkness.
Another was on the Boyton Hall estate where a resident had complained it was now pitch dark and they were afraid of being targeted by burglars.
The county council initially said residents could make raise an issue and get selected lights put back on, but this has now changed and the matter is being pushed to and fro between them and the police.
The county say they will only put a light back on if the police confirm there is a problem. When an issue is raised, the county contact the police and certain criteria have been laid down, none of which, it appears, locations in Haverhill have successfully met.
Residents from various parts of the town have complained to town councillors about their fears, but when Suffolk County Council officers have been contacted they have given dismissive replies.
Recently, Haverhill's new town clerk Will Austin received such a cheeky letter froma county council officer on the subject that the town council wrote a letter of complaint to the officer's boss.
The town council had asked for an officer to attend one of their meetings and explain the money-saving switch-off, which has reduced areas of the town to pitch blackness between midnight and 5am.
In declining to attend, the officer wrote sarcastically about the amount of fuss being caused by the town council over an issue which was not causing such concern anywhere else.
Mr Austin described this as a 'condescending' reply, inappropriate to such a serious issue and members followed up with a complaint to a more senior officer.
At Tuesday night's town council meeting, town mayor Cllr Maureen Byrne said two more issues of fears about lack of street lighting had been brought to her attention.
One was on the Clements estate where three vehicles were set on fire in one night and residents dared not go out to investigate because of the darkness.
Another was on the Boyton Hall estate where a resident had complained it was now pitch dark and they were afraid of being targeted by burglars.
The county council initially said residents could make raise an issue and get selected lights put back on, but this has now changed and the matter is being pushed to and fro between them and the police.
The county say they will only put a light back on if the police confirm there is a problem. When an issue is raised, the county contact the police and certain criteria have been laid down, none of which, it appears, locations in Haverhill have successfully met.
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