Calls to the Government to provide Stockton Council with Safer Streets Funding to support the installation of CCTV and lighting on cycle paths across Stockton North, have been made by MP Alex Cunningham.
Alex’s ask came after he was contacted by several women in the constituency who had voiced their concerns about badly lit cycle paths. One of the paths in particular has been named as the site of a reported rape of a young woman in February. Writing to Alex about the lack of lighting and CCTV, one constituent said: “what’s the point in having these cycle paths if we are afraid to use them?”
On Tuesday (16th March) the Government announced a further £25m to the Safer Streets Fund for better lighting and CCTV provision.
Alex said:
“Following a number of high profile offences against women, both nationally and locally, I have been made aware of the very real concerns raise by constituents about the lack of safety measures on many of our cycle paths in Stockton North. Women have told me that they feel increasingly reluctant to use many of the routes across the area.
“More lighting and CCTV is definitely not a cure-all, and there is so much more we need to do to tackle violence against women and girls. But this funding will go in some small way to ease the anxiety of women using our cycle paths. I hope the Government will listen to our case and provide the funding our Council needs to put these measures in place.”
Alex has written to Government asking for funding to provided. He has also written to Councillor Bob Cook, leader of Stockton Borough Council asking him to request resources from the Safer Streets Fund.
