Bristol parks to get safety measures after spate of crimes

Castle Park was the scene of a fatal stabbing in the early part of 2023

Safety improvements could be introduced in Bristol parks after a spate of crimes including several stabbings.

As part of a wide-ranging plan, Bristol City Council will upgrade or install lighting in several areas.

Other parts of the plan include creating new entrances in Castle Park, in the city centre, to improve visibility and access.

Detailed design work and planning applications for a major redesign of the park will start this spring.

The £1.2m programme for the park, where a man was fatally stabbed in January 2023, is likely to last 18 months.

Earlier in March, the council's cabinet approved its new parks and green spaces strategy, setting out priorities for upgrades.

Writing on the mayor's blog, Labour Councillor Ellie King, cabinet member for public health and communities, said the new strategy would increase access to parks over the next 15 years.

'Lucky to have them'

She said: "We want Bristol's communities to feel that parks are accessible, inclusive, safe, fun and rich in nature and wildlife.

"Bristol has over 400 beautiful parks and natural open spaces. We are lucky to live in a city so rich in parks, woodlands, areas for nature, playgrounds and playing pitches — from the expanse of the Downs to community pocket parks — and over half of us enjoy a visit to a park every week."

The plans in the strategy include using Green Flag's safer parks guidance on improving access for women and girls.

This includes measures like better lighting, improving access and changing designs to prevent areas where people might feel trapped.

People responding to a public consultation on the strategy called for better lighting in parks as well as new CCTV cameras.

However other people raised concerns about the impact of lighting on wildlife, as lights at night can disturb sleeping patterns.

Rawnsley Park in Easton was the site of a recent fatal stabbing, and some neighbours raised concerns in the national press about a lack of street lighting there.