Street lights across the county will remain off during the early hours until at least the new year, despite a call for council chiefs to switch them back on immediately.

Many residential and rural roads have been plunged into darkness between midnight and 5.30am as part of Kent County Council’s Safe and Sensible lighting initiative.

The aim, say council chiefs, is to save money and cut down on light pollution.

But support has been growing for the scheme to be reversed following a campaign by Gravesend resident, Tina Brooker.

Concerned about crime and safety, the 51-year-old set up a ‘Right to Light’ e-petition, first with Gravesham borough council and now with KCC, calling for lights to be reinstated.

More than 3,000 signatures have now been collected between the two, and yesterday at a full council meeting of KCC, members were asked to support a motion put forward by opposition UKIP county councillors that officers review the scheme three months ahead of schedule.

Cllr Brian MacDowall, a former Gravesend resident who represents Herne Bay, said on behalf of UKIP that it recognised the public fears and that the policy had caused “some serious issues”.

Labour councillors also put forward an amendment that all lights switched to part-night lighting revert back to all-night lighting while the review took place.

They also urged that the review included “a more detailed and direct” consultation with residents, as well as “detailed assessment aided by professional bodies”.

However, after a heated debate at County Hall, watched by Miss Brooker from the public gallery, both were defeated, with many Conservative members claiming UKIP and Labour had jumped on the “political bandwagon”.

Despite the setback, Miss Brooker, who lives in The Warren, said she will continue with her campaign.

“I feel let down for the people but I’m still determined, more so to be honest after that debacle, and I hope that people will back me.

“If people are feeling like me they have got to come out and sign the petition.”

UKIP member and Swale West representative Cllr Mike Baldock, who seconded the motion that an immediate review be held, said public concerns were genuine.

“This is not a cause for laughter but a call for a review of the policy.

“We have responded to public concerns and so let’s have a review, let’s have another look at it. Why is that so bad?”

“This authority has to make savings and where better to make savings than by turning out street lights in the early hours where they are not needed.” - David Brazier, Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Environment & Transport.

Cllr Colin Caller (Lab), who representes Gravesham East and proposed that the lights be switched back on immediately, criticised the consultation process undertook by KCC with residents.

He also disputed claims by opposition members that he had turned the campaign into a political issue.

“I support the petitioners as they are members of the public,” he added. “There is no doubt there is growing concern about the policy widespread through Kent.”

He also said KCC was “totally at odds” with other councils across the country which had adopted a “more measured approach” of dimming lights rather than switching them off.

However, Cllr Bryan Sweetland (Con), of Gravesham Rural, said all 12 Joint Transportation Board committees had been consulted since 2012, and that “quite extensive” public consultation took place which included press releases and adverts in local media.

Kent Police were also involved in the consultation process and KCC has always maintained it will work closely with police to monitor road accidents and crime.

However, it was revealed by the Messenger that police chiefs made KCC aware that it “cannot” support switching off street lights as it is recognised by the College of Policing as a highly effective way of reducing crime.

Of this, Cllr Sweetland added: “If there is a problem identified by police, we have always, always said that they would go back on from day one.”

Cllr. David Brazier (Con), who is cabinet member for transport and represents Sevenoaks North East, said KCC had only received 150 complaints from a population of 1.5million, and that “most rational people know there is nothing to fear”.

He said the scheme would be reviewed district by district next year.

“This authority has to make savings and where better to make savings than by turning out street lights in the early hours where they are not needed,” he added.

To sign the ‘Right to Light’ petition online, click here.