At last night’s Strategy & Resources Committee (26 July), councillors agreed the expenditure of £50,000 to improve lighting in Court Recreation Ground, Epsom, and Poole Road Recreation Ground, Ewell. 

The council continues to invest in facilities to help residents of all ages be active and the new LED lighting will extend the use of the outdoor facilities over the winter months. 

Court Recreation Ground includes an astro turf pitch, five football pitches, a bowling green, three tennis courts an outdoor gym trail, a children’s play area and an area for older children. 

Poole Road Recreation Ground (also known as King George V Playing Fields) includes an athletics track, two football pitches, two tennis courts, a basketball court, a children’s play area and an area for older children and a multi-use games area. The park also hosts a boxing club, a gymnastics club, a running club and an inclusive cycle group. 

Councillor Eber Kington, Chair of the Strategy & Resources Committee said: “It is important to maintain the quality of our outdoor sports and recreational facilities and if we encourage more people to use them for more hours in the day that adds to the wellbeing of our residents”

As light pollution is a concern, a trial was undertaken at both sites to measure lux levels, under guidance by Sport England regarding levels of light for football pitches and athletics tracks. 

Councillor Kington commented “Whilst increasing the use of these facilities, the introduction of the latest technology will also see a reduction in both, light pollution and the running costs of lighting at both parks”. 

Well-lit parks are safer parks and the new lighting is intended to act as a deterrent to those few individuals who use the parks in the evening for anti-social activities. 

Councillor Kington added “Improved lighting in these parks is another element of our policy to ensure our borough remains welcoming and safe, and any increased usage of the parks in the evening will add to that feeling of safety”. 

**Lux : Lux is a unit used to measure the intensity of light hitting a surface and is used in lighting design.