As the summer months come to an end, and daylight begins to get shorter, the skate park, children’s play area, and dog walking field is rendered useless on an evening. 

As I myself am a local BMX rider at the park, I have witnessed first-hand the issues that the lack of lighting at the park brings. We can all agree that it causes a problem when sessions are cut short due to the daylight dropping out in the winter months. Most of the park is plunged into complete pitch-black darkness by the time most people return home from school/work. 

The perfect, and highly beneficial, solution to this would be the installation of floodlights. 

If the park was accessible later on in the day in an afternoon or evening, it would be much more useful to the community who have other commitments during the day. Surely a park created for the ‘youths’ should be accessible to them? How can we make use of a park that is pitch black by the time we return from our studies? 

The park is already extremely low lit on an evening, with the street lights that are already in place being virtually useless, barely lighting up the pathway as it is. Wellholme was originally built with the intention of creating a space that encourages the younger people in our community to practice doing what they love, in an easily accessible, local area. 

By having floodlights at Wellholme park, this does not only benefit the skate park and its users but aids the local community as well. People of all ages, from children to the elderly, walk through Wellholme park on an evening. Including those who may be/feel vulnerable. Simply, the park does not feel safe. 

It is common knowledge that many people complain of antisocial behaviour in places such as parks, as a lack of lighting often encourages antisocial behaviour from other members of the community, separate from the fun and welcoming skate community that we have at Wellholme park. If Wellholme was to have floodlights, it would encourage an increase in legitimate, responsible skatepark users, who would make the most use of the park as it would me much brighter, and therefore useable on an evening. 

A lack of lighting is actually more encouraging of antisocial behaviour from irresponsible members of the community.  

There are already at least 30 local regular users of the skate park alone. We want our park to be a safe and welcoming environment to new-comers. 

Other local parks have been seen to benefit from the use of floodlights, such as Knowl Park in Mirfield, where the skate park, children’s play area, and basketball court are lit up until 9/10pm on an evening. Creating a safe space for socialising, and a sense of comfort for those walking through the park on an evening , knowing that they are safe in a well-lit area. 

The building of floodlights at the park are a small price to pay for the safety and usefulness they will bring to ourselves, and the community. As well as to those who rely on the use of the park for their mental health and wellbeing. 

The safety of Brighouse’s citizens should be at the heart of the council, this is not just a matter that is important to the skate park community, but the local community.