Councillor calls for North Ayrshire to copy Glasgow and light up parks

There are concerns about safety on dark pathways

Author: Tom GrantPublished 20th Sep 2024

An independent North Ayrshire councillor has urged the administration to take a leaf out of Glasgow City Council’s book and get the area’s dark footpaths lit up.

Largs’ Ian Murdoch insists his main concern is for people’s safety after raising a question about lighting up parks during a full council meeting on Wednesday.

SNP Councillor Tony Gurney told Cllr Murdoch there was no money available to invest in the introduction of lighting to currently unlit areas, unlike in nearby Glasgow which nearly two years ago signed off on lighting up parks such as Kelvingrove after a campaign.

However, speaking to Clyde 1 Ayrshire after the meeting, Cllr Murdoch believes there is still scope for something to be done.

He said: “The most sensible solution in this modern day and age is solar-powered lights.

“Everybody has them in their garden, they are relatively reliable, I’ve had solar-powered streetlights in my garden that have lasted years.

“In my mind, a commercial, solar-powered streetlight is the way forward.”

In December 2022, Glasgow councillors agreed to begin work on illuminating dark walkways in parks across the city, following pressure from the Light The Way campaign backed by women’s safety groups.

Trials of lights in Kelvingrove, Cranhill and Queens Park have been active since last winter. The council is also now considering making lighting in those three parks permanent.

And Cllr Murdoch wants North Ayrshire to use the success in Glasgow as a springboard to replicate it locally.

“The scheme that I gave as an example, Glasgow City Council, they have run a pilot project on solar-powered streetlights,” he added.

“I know why we can’t because we have no budget, but the point I was making is, would the council support exploring outside funding?

“Not from the council budget, but from outside funders.

“There is no reason why the council can’t support these schemes, and get solar lighting installed using outside funding sources.”

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