I am fully in favour of the scheme, by Essex County Council, to save taxpayers cash by switching off street lights between midnight and 5am and to reduce the CO2 emissions that contribute to global warming. Since we settled in Dunmow 20 years ago, it ha

I am fully in favour of the scheme, by Essex County Council, to save taxpayers' cash by switching off street lights between midnight and 5am and to reduce the CO2 emissions that contribute to global warming.

Since we settled in Dunmow 20 years ago, it has perceptibly changed from a village to a small town and over that period it has lost some of its rural feel.

Not only has the recent policy on street lighting contributed to our green credentials and reduced light pollution, it has helped us to recover a village feeling. It is now delightful to walk out late at night under the stars rather than sodium lighting.

What evidence is there that the increase crime is due to this policy on street lighting? I suspect that it has more to do with poor policing. I do not agree that our safety is under real threat. If there have been several burglary attempts where thieves, under the cover of darkness, have tried to break into homes using a drill on the wooden window frames and cars have been vandalised or even stolen, then what are the local police doing to prevent these crimes?

I suspect very little. These petitioners are the same people that want to remove all of Dunmow's public benches, introduce CCTV cameras everywhere and brand our young people 'youths' and treat them like vermin. They are the same people who wish to drive everywhere and isolate themselves in their comfortable sitting rooms in the evening, twitch the curtains and wonder who will be attacked next.

Bryan Haines, Highfields, Great Dunmow