The street lights in Newmarket are turned off between 11.30pm and 6am. During this time most of the town is in complete darkness making it extremely unsafe, in particular for any one who has no choice but to travel on foot, perhaps to and from work at this time. There are many people who work unsociable hours. 

The first train leaves Newmarket to Cambridge at 6.02am and lots of people commute to work using this mode of transport yet the streets that people have to walk through from their homes to the station are in complete darkness during many months of the year. This is sadly particularly worrying and frightening for females who have no choice but to walk to the station in total darkness. 

According to the crime statistics for Suffolk Constabulary there were 167 reported crimes in Newmarket for the month of August 2021’ with 75 of these being for violence and sexual offences. 

It is unacceptable that as tax payers we are unable to feel safer on our streets and even in our homes because of the lack of light. It is our basic human right to feel safe. 

Some other councils turn their lights off between 1am and 5am and some have left their lights on. 
We are calling on Suffolk County Council and Newmarket Town Council to please do the same and change the time of darkness to between 1am and 5am so that people can feel a little bit safer in particular women and those that have to walk early in the morning or late at night.  

#lightupnewmarket #safernewmarket