Light the Way: Petition launched and annual demo announced

As Glasgow City Council are accused of kicking the issue into the long grass, Radio Clyde are launching our second annual demonstration on park safety lighting.

We are also launching a Change.org petition on the issue, and are asking for your support.

For the last 12 months we have been calling on the local authority to light parks in the middle of winter so that they can be used safely by all.

Last year we held a hugely successful rally in Kelvingrove Park, and plan to return again this year at 5.30pm on Thursday 1st December to demand the local authority take urgent action on this issue.

Long running argument

It has been an issue in Glasgow in parks like Kelvingrove for a number of years, with women's groups and runners all calling for better lighting in the evenings.

The debate over lighting in the park was reignited during COP26 after a Police diversion forced women to walk through a dimly lit area of Kelvingrove to get home. Police Scotland issued an apology.

Generator powered lights were also put in place in some areas for the climate conference, something campaigners have been calling for years to improve safety and there were hopes this would be made permanent.

The local authority commissioned Green Space Scotland to investigate the possibility of lighting safe routes through three city parks following our campaign. Those parks were Kelvingrove, Cranhill and Queen's Park.

Consultations not open to the public

The Greenspace Scotland consultations have not been open to members of the public, and have been by invitation only to select stakeholders.

Labour councillor Jill Brown's been critical of this. She said: "I do think that it's fine to talk about consultation but it really is about making sure that there is proper consultation, that any interested parties are able to participate in that and particularly because the parks that they're looking at are used by people from across the city, not just those who live in the immediate vicinity, so the more views, the better."

“For example, without Radio Clyde and the Light the Way campaign, then we may not be where we are right now but yet for you not to be involved in consultation the process, given the huge number of people that campaign represented seems odd."

Support for Light the Way

Light the Way is supported by charities and organisations across the city.

Victim Support Scotland

Victim Support Scotland tweeted their support saying: "Good to see Clyde News #LightTheWay campaign calling for safety lighting to be installed in parks across Glasgow.

It is important that everyone, especially women and girls, feel safe in all public spaces."

Visibility Scotland

Visibility Scotland, who support people affected by sight loss in Scotland said:

"Many people living with sight loss experience reduced vision at night and can struggle to get out and about in winter when the mornings and evenings are dark. Proper lighting in our parks would be a huge help.

"If you have a visual impairment and this issue is important to you please comment on this tweet and add your voice to the campaign.

Over the next couple of weeks we'll also be sharing some top tips from our staff and volunteers to help make getting out and about easier over winter so watch this space."

Rape Crisis Scotland

The council's position has also come under fire from leading women's safety campaigners including the Chief Executive of Rape Crisis Scotland Sandy Bindley.

"It's the least we can expect from our public authorities to take reasonable steps to make places safe, particularly for women, when we are going about our business,” she told us.

"We're not talking about going into parks at midnight, but this is Scotland in the winter where it is dark from about 4pm.

"Is the council really saying that public spaces should be no-go areas for women outwith working hours? I think that's unacceptable.

"So many women who've experienced sexual crime can fee responsible for what's happened to them, or to question their own actions. and I think it's really important to be clear that we should be able to go where we want to.

"I do really feel the council should reflect on the tone of their messaging in this context. What are they saying about effectively making parts no-go areas for women after 4pm in winter in Scotland.”

Nearly a year since issue was first raised

The issue of park lighting in the city has been a long running argument, which was reignited last year during COP26, after a Police diversion forced women to walk through a dimly lit area of Kelvingrove to get home. Police Scotland issued an apology.

Generator powered lights were also put in place in some areas for the climate conference, something campaigners have been calling for years to improve safety and there were hopes this would be made permanent.

Glasgow Labour councillor Eva Murray said: “It's incredibly frustrating and disappointing that the council has made little to no progress on lighting in our parks. At this time last year, my labour colleague, Councillor Brown and I spent a great amount of time working with the other parties on the council to bring forward a motion with a robust and clear set of demand, that included a timescale and it's clear now that that hasn't been adhered to.

“One year on, we are no further forward and as we're in the midst of the winter months, our parks are once again off limits for far too many of our citizens. That is simply not acceptable.

“We should be building a city that is accessible and safe for all every single day of the year. We don't need more talk. We don't need more papers. What we need is action.

“There is clear support for this across the city, councillors backed our motion last year and instructed the administration and officers to find solutions.

“Cities across the world are showing how we can instal environmentally friendly lighting solutions. Why then are we seeing this issue kicked into the long grass in Glasgow.

“I'm so glad that Radio Clyde are continuing to lead the way on this with their campaign, holding the council to account and demanding action. Myself and my Glasgow Labour colleagues will be supporting them all the way in the city chambers and in our parks until we find solutions.”

Glasgow City Council says work is underway

A spokesman for the council said: “The call for more lighting in city parks has been the focus of regular debate and scrutiny through the council’s democratic processes over the past year.

“As a pilot exercise in relation to three parks, recent engagement sessions with multiple stakeholders and community representatives have sought to capture the broadest possible range of views on this subject.

“The results of local surveys and the feedback from the engagement sessions is being collated into a report to committee that will go before councillors for further scrutiny on November 22 this year.

“The outcome of follow-up workshops that examine any technical issues connected to specific proposals for each of the three parks will also be reported back to elected members.

“At its conclusion this approach will have ensured detailed consideration of all relevant issues and help form an approach that’s suitable for each park.”

Light the Way demo 2021

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