Calls for even more lights at Abbey Fields
ABBEY Fields should be even more brightly lit rather than plunged into darkness, is the latest call from the town council in the fight over the footpath lights
hannah.smith@kenilworthweeklynews.co.uk
ABBEY Fields should be even more brightly lit rather than plunged into darkness, is the latest call from the town council in the fight over the footpath lights
Town councillors rejected the proposed switch off of the lights between the swimming pool and the car park - instead calling for the field route to be lit all the way up to the war memorial for public safety.
Officers at Warwickshire County Council proposed making the path exempt from the big switch off from December 1 when nearly all county street lights will be turned off between midnight and 5.30am each night.
But following public calls for darkness to prevent gangs of young people and anti-social behaviour along the “path to nowhere”, officers wrote to Kenilworth Town Council inviting them to have the final say on behalf of the town.
It is still unclear what will happen next as this letter perhaps wrongly suggested the decision was in their hands.
Speaking to members at their last meeting, town councillor Richard Davies (Con, St John’s) urged them not to deviate from the county council’s proposals for safety reasons, especially not before festive party season when the path is well used.
“This is a well used short cut and the idea of people being attacked possibly resting on our shoulders with this decision makes me quite uneasy,” he said.
Cllr Andrew Mobbs (Con, Parkhill) went one step further and suggested they ask for more lighting right the way up to the war memorial for increased public safety.
But county councillor John Whitehouse, who is calling for a switch off from December, said it was not up to the town council and all recommendations needed to be considered.
“This is a consultation exercise to get public opinion not a referendum,” he said.
“The town council’s view should certainly be taken into consideration, as should all those who responded, but the decision should be taken by officers or the portfolio holder responsible after all points have been weighed up.”
He said that extra lighting was “not on the agenda” given the current lighting cut backs.
A police spokesperson said there was “no evidence of an increase in crime in other areas where part night lighting has been introduced” but that they will continue to monitor crime in Abbey Fields.
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Sunday 19 May 2013
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