STREET lights in Colchester will be switched off overnight according to fresh proposals. 

Part-night street lighting is already in place in some parts of Essex, but Essex County Council plans to extend it to Colchester from November 1. 

The scheme will see street lights being switched off between 12am and 5am every night, following a pilot of the scheme in Maldon and Uttlesford. 

Essex County Council says the pilot demonstrated no negative impact on crime statistics or road collisions as a result of the changes.

Town centres, key road junctions and accident black spots will be exempt from the plans.

Essex County Council has written to all local authorities across the county, county councillors and emergency services, giving them the opportunity to suggest areas which should be excluded from the scheme.

The deadline for consultation responses for the remaining eight districts and boroughs is 27 September 2013.

If residents want to suggest areas to be excluded from the scheme, they should contact their county councillor. 

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