In recent weeks there have been a number of sexual attacks and a rape in Ramsgate in what would ordinarily have been well lit streets says GMB Southern
GMB welcome the decision by Kent County Council to turn back on the street lights in Ramsgate, starting on the 5th December 2016 after residents have shown concern over their streets being plunged into darkness.
GMB have long campaigned for councils to reverse their decisions to turn off street lights in residential areas at night in a bid to save money and putting residents and road users in unnecessary danger.
Karen Constantine said "GMB welcome the decision by Kent County Council to turn back on the street lights in Ramsgate in the next 3 weeks after a period of two years where they were turned off to save money. In recent weeks there have been a number of sexual attacks and a rape in Ramsgate in what would ordinarily have been well lit streets.
After further investigation it seems no-one within the county council actually knew which lights were on or off and that Ramsgate would be among the last county towns to be retro fitted with LED’s and until then the streets would remain in darkness.
Ramsgate has an appalling record in securing convictions on rape and sexual assault charges. That the lights were off throughout the night should never have happened as it arguably created more risk. Apart from this being ‘common sense’ there was a failure to conduct an ‘equality impact assessment.'”