Hundreds call for urgent action as safety fears intensify at Derby park

Safety fears are growing at this unlit area of Oakwood Park, Derby. Image by LDRS.

Public safety fears are growing over the lack of lighting at a Derby park, with hundreds making calls for them to be reinstalled urgently.

More than 475 people have signed a petition urging Derby City Council to put lampposts back up along a “vital route” at Oakwood Park – amid deep concern the area will stay unlit this winter.

One woman who uses the park, off Springwood Drive, said the lack of lighting currently makes it a “no-go zone”.

Leaders of the Labour-led council recently revealed solar lights at the park were removed following investigations that “columns had been installed with inadequate foundations”.

Worried Oakwood councillors have been leading calls for replacement lighting  – but they say “no reasonable progress” has been made.

A petition has now been launched by them in the hope immediate action is taken.

But the city council, in response to the petition, has said plans are in place to get the area lit up again.

The removal of lighting has led to safety concerns from residents who walk through the unlit “Northern Pathway” area, which connects Parkview Primary School to Gatcombe Close and surrounding residential streets.

Other areas of the park have working lampposts. But this particular pathway has been unlit for some time.

Nearby resident Deborah Manzoori said she felt vulnerable in the winter with constant fear of falling.

She said: “Not only do I feel unsafe, as a woman walking on her own, in the dark but I am also worried that I may trip and fall.  I have fibromyalgia and if I fall the pain would be excruciating and take me days to recover.

“The council can’t simply remove them and not replace them.”

Fellow Oakwood Park user Stuart Burton has complained to the council over the matter.

He said: “The lights should be replaced immediately. If a street light was damaged it would be replaced, why not these?

“The council has yet again showed how great it is at wasting tax payers money, my money.”

A comment by Gemma on the petition reads: “A lack of lighting along this path makes it a no-go zone during hours of darkness.”

Oakwood’s three Conservative councillors Matthew Eyre, Freya Trewhella and Jamie Mulhall say immediate action is needed.

Derby City Council said in a statement works are planned to restore lighting in the area.

However, a specific time frame on that work has not been provided.

The spokesperson said: “We understand that residents are concerned about the removal of lighting at Oakwood Park and the impact that this may have.

“Works are planned to reinstall lighting at the park as part of our 2026/27 programme of works. We are currently in the early stages of designing what the lighting will look like, and we will keep residents and ward councillors updated.”

The petition can be seen here.