Street light checks reveal dark areas in Salisbury

Over the last four weeks members of Salisbury Soroptimists - a volunteer group campaigning to make things better for women - and Safer and Supportive Salisbury have been joined by residents, councillors and police in walking the streets at night, assessing safety measures in place to protect those walking after hours.

This comes after a women’s safety conference was held last year, during which a lack of street lighting and walking home in the dark were raised as major concerns.

Sparked by the tragic murder of Sarah Everard in March 2021, Salisbury officials set up the conference and, based on the conference outcomes, an action plan of how to address women and safety concerns at a local level.

Conducting an audit to assess lighting across Salisbury's streets and open spaces in the dark was part of this action plan.  

Safety at night audit on March 31, 2022 - Attendees Salisbury soroptimist Liz Batten and Councillor Sven Hocking

After two of the four audit sessions were completed Liz Batten, who helped establish the Salisbury branch of Soroptimist International, told the Journal that around 30 street lights were out across the city, which have now been reported to Wiltshire Council.

This includes one near Brown Street car park.

With the Journal joining the group for the third audit on March 31, around Churchill Gardens and The Friary, Liz said: “The reason for doing these night street audits is to look at the streets as an ordinary member of the public returning home late at night.

“It’s to get a feel for where we feel safe and where we feel areas are dark and could do with better lighting.”

Safety at night audit on March 31, 2022 - Churchill Gardens

As well as lighting, the audits have been focussing on CCTV coverage and graffiti across underpasses, open spaces and car parks.

“Graffiti and litter tends to attract people that you don’t necessarily want to meet in dark corners,” Liz added.

While some areas of Salisbury have been noted as needing more light, including underpass exits and car parks, there are several larger public spaces that need the darkness for the environment and wildlife.

The fourth and final audit was completed last week, and findings are now being collated to be fed back to the Salisbury Women’s Safety Initiative Steering Group.

An accreditation taxi scheme and a safety information hub are just some of the other projects from the action plan that are currently in progress.

A women’s football match was held at the weekend against Highworth Town Lions Ladies, as part of aims to promote positive attitudes and behaviours towards women in sport.

Safety at night audit on March 31, 2022 - Underpass near Churchill Gardens

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