Light the Way: Scottish Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy calls for lighting in parks sooner rather than later
Councillors are due to publish plans on how they will install lighting in Kelvingrove, Cranhill and Queen's Park.
Last updated 19th Apr 2023
Scottish Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy is backing our Light the Way campaign as we demand the council speeds up plans to install lighting in parks across the city.
Last year, it was confirmed at least three parks will have safety lighting installed, but work is not due to start for another two years.
Pam represents Glasgow and told Greatest Hits Radio: "I am really worried more people will be attacked or crime could increase in these parks at night.
"However, it is also a matter of personal safety because if you are making your way through these places then you have to be able to see what is in front of you.
"If we do not see lighting in these parks sooner rather than later then people will get out of the way of using these spaces like they did during the pandemic."
Radio Clyde's Light the Way campaign
For the last 18 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.
Pam added: "I would never come to one of these parks at night on my own which is not right because people should be able to move around these places and enjoy them.
"I have had people come up to me and say they have had to re-route their whole plan for getting to and from work.
"The after school run can be done in the dark at certain times of the year and parents picking up their kids have been in touch because it is not viable for them to walk through the park."
Sign the Petition
We've started a petition demanding the local authority allocate the necessary funding and speed up the process of installing park lighting.
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.
Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Well, maybe a glimmer...
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.
Labour councillor Jill Brown said: "It is now a year and a half since this motion was passed.
“My concerns arising from the committee are that there was no funding allocated to providing the lighting and the parks and given that 86% of the respondents who fed into the consultation, said that they either didn't go to the park after dark, or they felt unsafe in the park after dark is deeply worrying about your safety is on the priority list for this council.
“And with the cost of living crisis really biting, being able to walk safely home instead of incurring travel costs would really make a difference for very many people.
“Even if funding is identified, and at best, there will be lighting in Kelvingrove Park for Christmas 2024 but far more likely, it will be 2025 and that means it'll have taken four years to Light the Way through the park.
“So is there light at the end of the tunnel? Well, maybe a glimmer, but there certainly isn't any light in the park.”
A further report will be presented shortly
A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “Our engagement sessions with stakeholders and community representatives have provided a clear steer on how to deal with the issue of introducing more lighting into parks.
“The evidence we committed to gather in relation to the three parks involved in a pilot programme will now help inform a series of workshops that will consider a range of technical issues in much more detail.
“Issues to be gone through will include potential routes or areas to be lit, the type of lighting to be used, ecological impact and any tree management work that may be required.
“Funding for any project has still to be identified and any work to remove any vegetation will be undertaken out with bird nesting season.”