Campaign to light city’s parks

Two Glasgow Caledonian academics joined campaigners, charity leaders, business owners and officers in discussing ways of lighting key routes during a meeting hosted by Radio Clyde at the University last week.

Professor Rohinton Emmanuel and Professor Lesley McMillan offered their academic insight at the roundtable discussion, which formed part of Radio Clyde’s Light the Way campaign, calling for safety lighting to be installed in Glasgow’s city parks.

Professor Emmanuel, who is co-director of the University’s BEAM research centre, said: “The discussions highlighted the need for joined-up thinking between the many environmental and societal goods intended by public policy.

“While there is a clear need to address climate change and urban sustainability, and to preserve and enhance biodiversity, there is an equally important need to foster the wellbeing and safety of citizens. Although the immediate focus of the campaign is the lighting of key routes through select urban parks in Glasgow, the ultimate aim is enhanced safety and wellbeing, and this clearly needs to be embedded across the active travel, urban regeneration and neighbourhood development actions in the city.”

Professor McMillan, who has carried out internationally-renowned research on gender-based violence, said: “People report greater levels of fear in spaces that are poorly lit, or where lighting creates areas of marked contrast. This is particularly the case for women, who, as a result, are more likely to avoid these public spaces.

“Lighting is therefore an accessibility issue and improved lighting of civic spaces may increase viable transport routes and opportunities for exercise and leisure, especially during the winter months and daytime hours of darkness.”

Attendees signed a pledge at the end of the meeting to promise to do their bit to fight for lights in parks.