AFTER years of living in the shadows of a solar power venture that went catastrophically wrong and effectively bankrupted it, Thurrock Council is able to celebrate a small community success when the sun's power has been put to good use.

A set of 10 new solar lights have been installed on a green area in Centurion Way, Purfleet, after the council and the local community forum worked together.

John Rowles, the chairman of the Purfleet-on-Thames Community Forum, had identified the need for the lights and the council used money which had been set aside by a developer as a condition for them getting planning permission to buy the lights.

Cllr Lee Watson, cabinet member for good growth, said: "This is exactly the sort of project these developer contributions are there for.

"The local Community Forum saw the need to install lights on the green and we were able to source and supply an innovative solution to getting lights and power to where they were needed.

"I would like to thank Milestone Infrastructure Ltd, who maintain street lighting in the borough, for delivering and installing the new lights entirely free of charge."

Mr Rowles said: "This is what the community forums were setup for, to give the community a voice and generate a bit of joined-upness.

"I would like to thank the council's highways team, who worked very quickly to get these lights in place.

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"These solar lights perfectly meet our needs, and we hope that they will make the green a safer and more welcoming place for local residents."