A march on the House of Commons is being organised to highlight the concerns of residents across the country about the street lights switch-off.

It is hoped thousands will come together on Wednesday, March 25 – the week before Parliament is dissolved ahead of the general election.

People from Kent are being urged to take part, despite council chiefs’ dramatic u-turn on its own Safe and Sensible initiative.

The scheme plunged many residential and rural areas into darkness when almost 70,000 of its 120,000 lights were switched off between midnight and 6.30am from December 2013 to save money and cut down on light pollution. However, KCC has now confirmed that all lighting will be restored once it has invested in LED technology to the tune of £40 million.

Although Gravesham campaigner Tina Brooker welcomed the announcement, she said residents should not have to wait for the return of their street lights.

“We have no idea of the timeframe for this,” said the legal secretary. “It could be two, three, even four years down the line and as far as I’m concerned that is still unacceptable. Lighting should be restored immediately.”

The 52-year-old has campaigned tirelessly since her disabled neighbour hid in a wardrobe for three hours as would-be intruders tried to break into her home in The Warren, Gravesend, within days of lights being turned off in the secluded cul-de-sac.

Miss Brooker has gained support from personal safety charity The Suzy Lamplugh Trust, and liaised with other campaigners. The march has been spearheaded by concerned residents in Essex, and Miss Brooker is now trying to organise a Kent contingency.

“We are going to lobby MPs sitting that day by asking them how they would vote on part-night street lighting. I’m trying to arrange a coach to travel from Kent so this march will be as big as possible. As taxpayers we pay for that street lighting service but only some people have it. It’s discrimination.”

Miss Brooker and other Kent campaigners have always urged KCC to invest in LEDs, only to be told it was too expensive.

It has now been announced that part of the cost of the scheme will be met by an interest-free loan of £22 million, secured with help from the Department of Energy and Climate Change. A grant from the European Union may make up the difference.

Street lights have been switched off or dimmed in three-quarters of England’s council areas, according to Labour Party research, According to reports in a national newspaper, the number increased from 122,369 in 2010, when the Tory-led coalition came to power, to 1,136,535 lights in 2013 – an increase of 829%.

Anyone interested in joining the march can contact Miss Brooker on tinabr@hotmail.co.uk