A DEMONSTRATION will be held by hundreds of Glasgow residents, who will demand the council improves lighting across the city.

The Light The Way campaign aims to highlight the concerns of women who are afraid to walk home in the dark, especially in poorly-lit parks.

They will call on Glasgow City Council to improve the lighting in these areas to ensure that everyone feels safe at night.

The demonstration is part of Clyde 1 & 2’s Light The Way campaign and will be held in Kelvingrove Park, at the Stewart Memorial Fountain, at 6pm on December 10.

Light The Way spokesperson and Clyde 1 News journalist, Natalie Crawford, said: “Friday, December 10, the day of the demonstration is the last day in the UN’s 16 days of action against gender-based violence so it is really appropriate to bring together I Walk With Women and Light The Way.

“We can - and must - do more to protect women across Glasgow and we have already seen that action can be taken when there is political will.

“This demonstration will ensure that decision-makers know that we will not stay silent and that women’s, and all Glaswegians', safety at night should be a top priority.

“We are anticipating a good turnout which will reflect the strength of feeling about the campaign - we must protect women better.”

Light The Way demonstration host and co-presenter of Clyde 1’s Bowie@Breakfast, Cassi Gillespie, said: “I just don’t feel safe on my local streets at the moment.

"I don’t think there’s enough lighting anywhere, in parks, on country roads and even rural areas.

"And as the world is moving, we’re being asked to walk more and cycle more - how are we supposed to do that when we don’t feel safe at night?

“I limit myself to daytime hours because I can’t walk through my local park – there’s no lighting. It’s not just about women’s safety, it’s about us all feeling safe when we walk the streets at night.”

READ MORE: Glasgow's Kelvingrove Park: COP26 VIP dinner forces women to walk through dark park

This comes after complaints that women had to walk through Kelvingrove Park in darkness last month, during COP26.

Police officers later apologised for the concerns they caused with the diversion.

Light The Way was launched earlier this month and has brought together a range of community groups and organisations who are calling on the local authority to provide safe lighting in the city’s greenspaces.

A spokesperson from Glasgow City Council said: “Ensuring personal safety in public spaces is an absolute priority for the council.

“We want people to feel secure and safe when moving around the city and we are aware this can be a particular issue for women, LGBTQ+ communities and those from black and ethnic minority backgrounds.

“Our draft active travel strategy also has a clear focus on providing safe routes throughout the city for walking, wheeling and cycling at all times of the day, all year round. 

“We also have a responsibility to protect and promote the city’s biodiversity and ensure that our open spaces provide suitable habitats for wildlife. It is crucial that we fully understand the potential for unintended consequences by changing lighting patterns in these natural spaces.

“But we are fully aware of the concerns being expressed on safety in parks at night. Lighting up parks is undoubtedly technically possible and we are actively looking at the experience of other places as well as relevant academic research.

“This is a complex issue with a number of competing priorities and careful consideration of possible measures must be undertaken to understand properly the potential impact on the city’s flora and fauna, but also whether any changes will create a safer environment for people to use.”