Concerns have risen about the lack of funding for a citywide project for safer lighting in parks.

More than £300,000 is needed to install lighting at three Glasgow green spaces.

This comes 18 months after a motion was approved.

Council officers have been working to develop lighting proposals at Kelvingrove, Cranhill and Queen’s Park after a motion to explore “sufficient” solutions and install sensitive lighting to keep people safe while promoting biodiversity in parks and open spaces was agreed in December 2021. 

Several “early tasks”, including plant management, entry and exit lighting, signage and existing lighting,  have already been highlighted as areas of importance and are expected to be addressed outside bird nesting seasons before October this year.

In a report presented to members of the environment committee, it was revealed that around £310,000 will be needed to fund lighting at the three parks but it has not yet been determined where that funding will come from.

Councillors have been advised that £109,000 would be needed to fund lighting for various routes in Kelvingrove, around £170,000 will be needed to install lighting in

Queen’s Park including routes around the main pond, and a further £31,000 is needed to light Cranhill Park.

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During Tuesday’s meeting councillor Jill Brown asked: “It is frustrating that it is 18 months on from when there was a unanimous motion passed at full council to look at bringing in lighting into parks.

“I do appreciate the huge amount of work that has been done and it is vitally important that we consider and act appropriately in terms of protecting the environment and wildlife.

“I would seek assurance that officers will look to solidify appropriate routes and identify any issues arising from any environmental impacts so that they can be dealt with so that when funding is identified, action can be taken swiftly.

“Given that all parties agreed to pursue this, I am a little surprised that there isn’t any money that has been ring-fenced for this project. Warm words aren’t going to light parks and I guess that would be my concern here.

“The paper does have some great options but without funding it is not going to go anywhere. There also seems to be some suggestion that communities might need to crowdfund for lighting if you could confirm what is expected of local communities when it suggests community organisations should be seeking funding.”

A council officer confirmed the work that would be carried out on the three parks has been suggested as it has a low biodiversity risk.

They said: “As the paper states there is no ring-fenced budget for lighting installations for parks. 

“There are opportunities available for community groups to apply for funding such as the infrastructure fund through area partnership. 

“We are actually working with the local community in Castlemilk to light their park. Paths for all are assisting us to see how we can restore lighting in Castlemilk Park that requires upgrading.”

In September last year, a public survey was carried out for local residents to give their views on safety and lighting in three parks.

The survey revealed that 89% of respondents felt unsafe and did not visit during darkness while 85% felt that increased levels of lighting would make the park safer in darkness. 

It also showed that 72% supported lighting at entrances and exits, 69% supported lighting on main routes only and 38% supported the lighting of play areas. Only 25% of respondents were concerned that additional lighting would affect biodiversity and habitats across the three parks. 

Councillor Holly Bruce said: “I have been following this quite closely since the campaign as an activist and now as a councillor and have a strong connection to Queen’s Park.

“I would like to say thanks for the updates and I am really pleased to see there are early actions and I am really keen to get involved in that as well.”