With nights drawing in, school’s campaign for lighting in Burgess Park is very timely
Students walking home after dark will now benefit from a newly-lit pathway in Burgess Park, thanks to a joint effort between Ark Walworth Academy and Southwark council.
The columns of lights, designed to improve visibility and safety for children using the park, were part-funded by the school and match-funded by the council.
There are 10 columns in total. The total budget was £95k – split between the school and the council – and the work was completed in late September.
The project was launched in response to community concerns about the safety of young people walking through the park after school hours, particularly during the darker winter months.
The new lighting is part of a broader commitment by the council to improve safety across the borough.
However, while the lighting is a significant improvement, the council urges parents and carers to remind their children that, where possible, they should avoid walking through the park after dark. There are alternative, well-lit routes around the area that can be used.
The project is part the School Superzone programme, which aims to benefit the health and well-being of children. The council received a grant from the Greater London Authority (GLA) to take action to improve the health environment around this school.
The project was arrived at after a “Dragon’s Den” style workshop in Mach last year, where students gave their suggestions on improvements to the area.
One of the main topics discussed was “community safety” and students raised concerns about walking through the park in the winter months due to the darkness. They suggested extra lighting to make them feel safer during this time.
Councillor Natasha Ennin, cabinet member for community safety and neighbourhoods, said: “No child should feel unsafe on their way home from school.
“These lights are a practical measure to improve safety for students walking through Burgess Park after dark. While it’s not ideal for children to be walking through the park at night, we realise it happens, and this installation is about making sure they’re safer when they do. We’re proud to work have worked with Walworth Academy to make this happen”.
Scott Barnes, assistant principal at the Ark Walworth Academy, said: “After a long campaign our students are delighted that the lights have now been installed. They believe they will make journeys in their community safer.”
Pictured top: Students from Ark Walworth Academy in Burgess Park (Picture: Ark Walworth Academy)