Park gets new lighting for locals to stay active during the winter

Published: 17 October 2024

New lighting has been installed in a popular park in Exeter to allow locals to access outdoor keep-fit equipment and a community hub all-year-round.

The lighting has been installed in Belmont Park by engineers from Exeter City Council and will come in handy now that the nights are drawing in and getting darker.

Additional lighting has been put in throughout the park, including the main path from Belmont Road to Blackboy Road, where there will also be a lit bollard. The lighting on the bollard is still to be completed and will be finished off in the coming weeks.

The need for lighting was identified by local residents and park users, who wanted to access the community hub building and outdoor gym equipment all year round.  

The works were funded by a Section 106 agreement, secured by officers from the old Ambulance Station development on Gladstone Road.

Cllr Ruth Williams, Lead Councillor for City Management, said: “I’m delighted with the works to illuminate the park. The lighting will make the park much more accessible to the local community, enabling locals to feel safe and keep active by walking and using the gym equipment during those dark autumn and winter nights.”

Cllr Matt Vizard, Lead Councillor with responsibility for Communities, said the initiative would help bring people together and make them more active.

He said: “Parks and open spaces are the focal point for communities and it’s great that we are making them more accessible, especially during dark winter nights.

“The new lighting makes for a much more welcoming environment in which people can exercise, stay active and use the community hub for various activities. I’d like to thank former local councillor Richard Branston for campaigning for the lighting and pushing this initiative forward.”