A Reclaim the Night walk organised by Lochaber Women’s Aid (LWA) has helped highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of street safety in and around Fort William.
Thirteen women joined the evening walk on December 4, which was part of LWA’s participation in the international ‘16 days of Action’ campaign against gender-based violence.
Split into five groups that took in routes that covered Fort William and outlying areas such as Upper Achintore, Claggan and Inverlochy, it was hoped the walk would be a practical step towards solving any local street safety issues, particularly during hours of darkness.
Whilst participants in the activity ultimately found many areas felt safe, with High Street receiving credit for its good lighting and open clear alleyways, there were also several areas seen to have inconsistent lighting.
The women noted preventable problems such as overgrown vegetation that reduced visibility as well as business bins on pavements or poorly maintained steps forcing pedestrians onto the road.
Even small lighting failures, the group found, had a noticeable effect on whether people felt confident about a road’s safety, while some routes only offered lighting on one side of the street.
Concerns were compounded by the fact that CCTV coverage is often at its lowest in the darkest areas, including instances near required transport or pathways.
Donna Campbell, Deputy Manager at LWA, said although the Reclaim the Night walk had highlighted areas of concern, it had also shown a community working together towards fixing a serious issue.
"It was great to take part in a walk that was so well attended," she said.
"We all enjoyed walking in our groups and the conversations we had with everyone along the way. It was a positive evening and good to see everyone take such an interest in women’s safety."
Detailed copies of the findings from the Reclaim the Night walk will now be sent to local counsellors and partner organisations and LWA plans to hold another "Safer Streets" walk in a different area of the town in the new year.
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