ELDERLY residents say new “motion sensor lighting” strips fitted to their council estate walkways do not give them enough time to get to their homes before the lights go out.

People living in the Denton tower block in Prince of Wales Road, Chalk Farm, told the New Journal they felt the council were treating their lives as “an experiment, because they think we’re not important”.

They were left upset when lights were fitted in the sheltered housing block three weeks ago. 

Camden insist that it had dealt with complaints about “static lighting that was in place” before and was trying to help.

But Rose Fox, 65, who has lived in Denton for over two decades said: “The lights in each corridor are meant to switch on when they feel someone moving in the corridor, but it doesn’t work that way. The other week, I came out of the lift with my shopping, and stopped outside my door to find the key. But because I had stopped moving it turned pitch black. I had to feel where the keyholes were. Say I had been 20 years older, like some of the people in here, that would have shaken them up. 

“It has stopped people going out because they don’t want to come back home and not be able to make their way up to their flat again. Very elderly people move slowly, and sometimes the lights simply switch off as if no one’s there. That is terrifying for them.”

A neighbour, in her seventies who did not want to be named, said: “Some years ago there were a number of muggings in this block. Sometimes we get leaflets through our doors, and I wonder how those people get in here. If they can get in here, anyone can. For our safety we need to be able to see through our spyholes but we can’t because it’s pitch black outside. I am very frightened because I can’t see anything anymore. A lot of us don’t ”

Ms Fox added: “We need them to put in a small light on each floor, even if it’s just a 60-watt lightbulb. In October it will start getting dark at 4pm – that is when I will be really worried.”

A Camden Council spokesman said: “Denton residents were informed of the changes at a meeting and given the opportunity to raise any concerns. If any complaints are made to us about the lighting we will of course look at how the motion sensors can be improved.”