Over half the lights on Northampton’s busiest park are being switched off by the Conservatives at County Hall. Richard Church, Lib Dem County Councillor for the area, has said that he is appalled that so little consideration is being taken for the safety of thousands of walkers and cyclists who use the park every day.
On some paths, all of the lights are being switched off. This includes all the lights on the path from St. Georges Avenue to Bailiff St. which is part of a national cycle route, and all the lights on the path past the hugely popular ‘Playbuilder’ play area in the middle of the Racecourse, sited at this location just a year ago due to its proximity to a well lit path.
‘The Racecourse is a vital route for people to travel to school, university and to work’ said Richard Church. The Friends of the Racecourse have successfully campaigned for improved lighting, and it is only a few years ago that the County Council spent over £250,000 on excellent new lights. Since then crime has dropped and more people use the Racecourse, day and night. I don’t want to see the Racecourse return to being a ‘No go’ area, with more and more serious crime and fewer and fewer people using it.’
‘I urge the County Council to think again. I will work with Friends of the Racecourse, students, parents and all people who use the Racecourse to get these lights switched on. The money saved from switching off the lights here is tiny, and at a time when we want to encourage people to walk and cycle this cut will just force more people into their cars.’
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