Families and residents on private roads in Castle Point, worried about their safety, are delighted after a deal was struck to fix defective street lights.

Following a meeting with Essex County Council, Castle Point Council leaders and MP Rebecca Harris it was agreed bulbs would be replaced in unadopted roads by Essex Highways.

It’s being coined as a “gesture of goodwill” ahead of the winter - and about 100 bulbs will be renewed.

Among the roads effected are: Keswick Road, Bassenthwaite Road, Windermere Road, Ullswater Road in Benfleet - and Coniston Road, Haarlem Road, and the Dutch Village area on Canvey.

As residents of private roads, they usually have responsibility for maintaining the street lights in their roads. However, after the recent meeting, a one off deal was brokered to foot the bill.

The issue of street lighting in private roads has been debated for a long time between residents and Castle Point Council. Mrs Harris feels unadopted Canvey roads are a “grey area” within the current system.

She also said that as well being a positive sign for the residents, it will provide safe passage for people passing through.

She said: “These roads are not just being used by residents, fixing these lights will be a benefit others too as they are drive or walk through these roads, which often have rough surfaces. It will help safety in these areas too.”

Residents and Castle Point councillors were keen the issue was resolved as quickly as possible following complex discussions in the past.

Ian Grundy, Essex County Council cabinet member for Highways, said: “We understand that the public are not interested in debates over who owns certain streetlights, they just want to have working streetlights.

“That is why we have agreed to replace broken bulbs on streetlights in a number of private roads in this area as a gesture of goodwill ahead of the winter.” After the repair work has been completed, the residents of the unadopted roads will be given guidance on how to maintain them along with the street lighting.