Residents’ fears after council cuts leave them in the dark

Residents are being kept in the dark and afraid to go out at night due to funding cuts, says a local council candidate.

Ainsdale hopeful Sean Flynn shone a light on how cutbacks are affecting the area after discovering poorly lit streets were making locals wary of certain parts of the neighbourhood.

After hearing their concern, the Labour candidate looked into the matter and discovered dozens of broken streetlights. Hereported over 50 to Sefton Council, which have now been fixed.

The 28-year-old said government cuts to the local authorityhad led to the removal of Sefton night patrols which wouldhave previously identified failed streetlights, commenting:

“Our council is now operating on a budget of around £230m a year less than 10 years ago, thanks to the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats making huge cuts. It can no longer afford the night patrols that used to report the problem as part of their job.”

“Now they rely on local representatives to be proactive in their wards and to notify the council when lights are not working. I found more than 50 and only a few had already been reported.

“It seems to me that the broken bulbs aren’t the only things failing to shed light, as the current Conservative and LiberalDemocrat councillors are clearly failing Ainsdale residents on this issue.”

“People there have told me they feel frightened when streetlights aren’t working because the darkness can provide a cover for criminal or antisocial behaviour.”

Mr Flynn, who is hoping to become Ainsdale’s first Labour and Co-operative councillor in May, continued:

“I’m pleased to have been able to help with this issue forresidents. If they are experiencing this or any other issue,contact me and I will work with my Labour colleagues to address it.”

“I know that Labour councillors in other wards locally have also been addressing the issue.”

“The public can also report broken streetlights through the Sefton Council website and I’d urge them to do so given the inaction of the local councillors in Ainsdale.”

Sean Flynn can be contacted via via email at seanflynn.labour@gmail.com or by telephone on

07584503227.

Broken street lights can be reported at https://www.sefton.gov.uk/parking,-roads-travel/road-safety/report-a-broken-street-light-on-the-highway.aspx

Residents’ fears after council cuts leave them in the dark

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