NEW lights will brighten a Cowley park this winter after families raised concerns about antisocial behaviour.

A set of five-metre lights and LED lanterns will be installed along a pathway in the park behind Templars Shopping Park on Monday.

It comes after councillors became concerned about the safety of families living nearby.

Cowley city councillor David Henwood said: “It’s one of those things that if you don’t feel safe in your own city, then you feel isolated. ”

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The park is behind the TK Maxx and Matalan stores at the shopping park in Between Towns Road, and backs on to St Omer Road, Cleveland Road, Havelock Road and Maidcroft Road.

Mr Henwood was prompted to push for lighting after taking a walk through the park late at night earlier this month.

He said: “It was frightening, quite scary and you can’t see the path.”

He said residents had also raised concerns about abusive language and late-night drinking in the area. He added: “It’s just a very uncomfortable situation to be in when you are walking along that pathway.

“And there are several people there whose behaviour you can’t presume. You don’t know what they are going to do, so it can be an unsettling experience.”

Installation of the lights and LEDs is expected to take four days.

The lights will be timed to switch off in the morning and will automatically dim after midnight.

Former Cowley city councillor Shah Khan received £1,875 from his ward budget for the lights, with the remaining funding coming from the city council’s community safety team.

Patrick Branson, 56, a member of the Clive Road Area Residents’ Association which covers roads surrounding the park, said: “Better lights should improve the fear of being approached while walking through. I think it’s necessary.”

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