Baffled residents today urged transport bosses to shed a little light on a riddle which has left them scratching their heads.

IPSWICH: Baffled residents today urged transport bosses to shed a little light on a riddle which has left them scratching their heads.

Those living in one Chantry road have dismissed county council plans to slash carbon emission after claiming a street light has remained on constantly…for a staggering five years.

Suffolk County Council's Roads and Transport Scrutiny Committee had agreed for consultation to take place into the idea of lights timed to go off at night.

However, the plans have left residents in Dunlin Road wondering whether the proposals will include one of their street lamps - which has remained on permanently for as long as they can remember.

In another bizarre twist, Ipswich Borough Council planted another street light immediately next to the old one - but it hasn't been properly connected for more than 12 months.

Cyril Claydon, who has lived in Dunlin Road for 40 years, said he has complained to the borough council on numerous occasions.

He said: “The light has been on permanently for about five years now and I must have complained to the council three or four times in the past few years and nothing has been done to turn it off.

“Instead of turning this one off, they just put a new one next to it - and that one has never even been connected.

“When I called the council they're just not interested - so I don't bother now, it's a waste of time.”

Mrs Wright, who also lives in Dunlin Road, agreed that the light had been on permanently for years.

She added: “It's not the only one in the area that seems to be on constantly.”

Power from its 54,000 street lights currently costs the county council about �450,000 each year - a quarter of its total energy budget.

It is hoped a radical overhaul of the network would bring about a 40 per cent drop in consumption.

An Ipswich Borough Council spokesman said: "We are aware of the problem with one of the old style columns in Dunlin Road and we are in the process of replacing it.

“We do monitor our light usage to balance both safety and electricity usage."

Do the lights never go out in your street? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

Moves to slash carbon emissions by turning off street lights were met with a wry smile in one Suffolk village - where it is claimed a lamp has been turned on permanently for months on end.

Residents in Walsham le Willows, near Bury St Edmunds, have been left wondering whether the proposals will include one of their street lamps - a light which has remained permanently on during the day as well as the night despite complaints to the council.

Those living in Wattisham Road cannot say exactly how long the light in their street has been on for, but they all agree it has been many months.