Politics & Council · Swindon
Calls for better lighting and CCTV in Swindon parks to improve safety
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
Councillors have tabled a motion demanding urgent safety improvements for women in Swindon parks following reports that many residents feel unsafe after dark.
Swindon residents are calling for urgent safety improvements across the town's parks, with councillors suggesting that many women are choosing to avoid public spaces or alter their routes home due to concerns about their safety after dark.
A motion submitted by Reform UK councillors to the Full Council on 22 October highlights several specific locations as areas of concern, including The Lawns, County Ground, Shaw Ridge Linear Park, Buckhurst Field, Folly Park, Brook Park, Coate Water, and Penhill Park. The proposal argues that women should not be required to change their behaviour or avoid public amenities to remain safe.
The motion provides a breakdown of the current infrastructure in these areas, noting a significant disparity in safety provisions. While locations such as Buckhurst Field and Shaw Ridge Linear Park benefit from perimeter lighting, other major areas including The Lawns, Penhill Park, and Coate Water Country Park lack any internal lighting.
CCTV coverage is equally inconsistent. Several parks, such as The Lawns, Folly Park, and Penhill Park, currently have no surveillance. Where cameras are installed, such as at Brook Park, councillors reported that operational issues have hampered their effectiveness. The motion identifies a potential plan for The Lawns that would involve installing three new CCTV cameras, with an estimated cost of £20,000 and annual maintenance fees of roughly £160.
The proposal asks the cabinet member for community engagement, safety and services to develop a fully costed plan within six months. This scheme would focus on three main areas:
Installing new lighting along major pedestrian pathways.
Expanding CCTV coverage through fixed cameras, mobile units, and the potential use of drones in collaboration with Wiltshire Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Addressing existing technical faults with current camera systems.
The motion also suggests fostering closer working relationships with organisations such as the Swindon Night Angels to help enhance the feeling of safety for women using public routes at night.
While official crime data does not show a high volume of recorded incidents within some of these specific parks between August 2025 and August 2026, the motion emphasises that the primary driver is the personal experience of feeling unsafe, which impacts how residents interact with their local environment. The motion was deferred during the council meeting on 22 October and has been moved to a committee for further discussion.
Source: Swindon Advertiser - Politics · View original