OPPOSITION councillors have hit out at County Hall bosses after they poured scorn on proposals for LED lighting across Essex.

Liberal Democrat county councillors put forward a motion for funding to be allocated in next year’s budget to convert the county’s street lights to LED lights, in a bid to save energy and cash.

Lights have been switched off between midnight and 5am as part of the county council’s part night lighting scheme in a bid to save cash and carbon emissions.

Rodney Bass, cabinet member for highways, said installing LED lights across the county would cost £60million.

The motion was rejected after Tory councillors voted against the idea.

Harwich councillor Ivan Henderson, said: “We want investment in LEDs so we can afford to have streetlights put back on."

It is estimated that LED lights would cut County Hall’s streetlight electricity bill by up to 80 per cent.

Tendring’s Conservative county councillors Mick Page, Andy Wood and Carlo Guglielmi voted against the motion.

Mr Guglielmi said: “I think having the lights on at night is a complete and utter waste,” he said.