Driving into Loughton from Buckhurst Hill last week at around midnight I too suffered a similar fate to your correspondent T Chaplin ( Guardian, letters, February  6) when all street lighting suddenly went out.

I too instinctively braked thinking my own vehicle was at fault.

I have since corresponded with our local county councillors who, behind the curve, assure me they are both seeking a retrospective change to leave the lights on until 1am (by deferring switch on time from 5am to 6am) .

This may assist late homecomers but does little for the early riser. I was somewhat miffed to be told that some residents with lights outside their homes (like mine) are pleased . Perhaps they cannot afford the luxury of curtains.

I was also unimpressed to be told that switching off the lights in Uttlesford did not give rise to an increase in crime; so what, you cannot compare the two districts.

We are told this is to save the planet and money yet this council has wasted thousands. Convicted fraudster and former Tory Lord Hanningfield (aka Paul White) milked his expenses whilst leader and wasted hundreds of thousands on vanity projects such as ‘Banking on Essex’.

It is the Conservatives and Loughton Residents’ Association that have allowed this to happen, perhaps it is time for a change.

Michael McGough, Wellfields, Loughton