Reclaim the Night walk shows good and bad of Lochaber street safety

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.