Fresher starts campaign for lighting in Seaton Park

It’s been a long time coming

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First years, have you ever wondered why the route you use to walk to and from uni EVERY SINGLE DAY is, when you think about it, actually a pretty dangerous one? If you haven’t already noticed, there is no lighting whatsoever in Seaton Park, making the use of it on winter or late nights extremely dangerous.

Seaton Park is smack bang in the middle of Aberdeen uni campus and Hillhead halls. Hundreds of students pass through it multiple times daily, whether its on a brisk jog late to a lecture or a drunken stumble in the early hours of the morning on the way back from a flat party.

If they know it’s bad, why not fix it?

Hallelujah, here comes our saviour. Glenn Ferguson is a first year Politics and History student who has decided to take a stand. He has started a campaign to get lighting installed in the park: “The issue of lighting in Seaton Park is one of those things that everyone talks about and hates, but no one has actually bothered to do anything about.”

Aside from the recent rape crime in Aberdeen and the direct criminal risks of a pitch black walking route, the colder months also bring new threat. And let’s be honest, what months aren’t the colder months here. We have all skidded through Seaton on our way into uni, but if you were to fall and have a serious accident in the darker hours, the lack of light runs the risk of no one being able to see you and come to your rescue.

After starting his campaign less than a week ago, Glenn has already received an unbelievable amount of support from the community and its authority figures alike. Aberdeen’s MP Kirsty Blackman saw the campaign and instantly got behind it, leading her to write to the local council to alert them of the issue. MSP Kevin Stewart is extremely supportive of the proposal to install lighting in Seaton and is willing to lodge a parliamentary motion in order to see it succeed. AUSA and the local police department are also backing the campaign with the realisation of the amount of good it would do regarding the safety of Aberdeen’s students.

The issue is one that should be raised around the area. As much as this campaign was sparked by the annoyance of students, the park is also used by other members of the community, there is even a kids play area there, so it is not only in a minority’s interest to ensure that is is a safer place to walk.

Let’s make Seaton Park this bright 24/7

Glenn is hoping to host a debate at New Kings in the coming weeks to really get the campaign running and making a difference. Amongst the line up of speakers passionate about the fight to get lighting in Seaton park are representatives from RAS, a rape and abuse support charity based in Aberdeen, local MSP Kevin Stewart and members of the local police force. Further information on the exact details of the event will be available on the campaign Facebook page once they are finalised.

There is a simple solution to the danger that surrounds Seaton Park out with daylight hours. Let’s get it done.

Want to get involved? Who wouldn’t. Give the Facebook page a ‘like’ and get behind the campaign to make Seaton safer

‘Campaign for lighting in Seaton Park’