Council Approves Lighting Trial on a Stretch of the Towpath

After more than a year of back-and-forth, the council has approved a six-month lighting trial on a half-mile stretch of towpath between the second lock and the footbridge. The decision came at Tuesday's meeting following a lengthy public comment session that drew residents from both sides of the debate.

The trial will install low-level LED fixtures mounted on short posts along the path's landward edge. The lights are designed to direct illumination downward onto the walking surface rather than outward, and they'll be fitted with shields to reduce glare. According to the council's transport team, the fixtures will run on a dusk-to-dawn schedule but at reduced brightness after eleven at night.

The stretch in question has been the subject of complaints for several years. Cyclists have raised concerns about unlit pedestrians, walkers have raised concerns about cyclists, and both groups have pointed to the path's uneven surface and proximity to the water. The council's own review noted that the section sees heavy use in early mornings and evenings, especially during winter months when daylight is limited.

The Case Against — and the Compromise

Opposition focused less on the principle of lighting than on its potential effects. Several residents argued that the canal corridor is one of the few genuinely dark spaces left in the area and that introducing light would disturb wildlife, particularly bats and owls known to use the corridor. Others raised concerns about light spill into waterside homes and the way illumination can change the character of the towpath after dark.

The approved design attempts to address those concerns. The fixtures are low-intensity, the posts are short, and the trial period is fixed at six months with a review built in. The council also agreed to install motion sensors on a portion of the fixtures, so that some lights only activate when someone passes. If the trial shows unacceptable impacts on wildlife or residents, the council has committed to removing the fixtures rather than extending the trial.

Not everyone is satisfied. One resident who spoke at the meeting said the compromise still represents an irreversible change to a corridor that has been dark for generations. A cycling group representative countered that the current situation is already unsafe and that doing nothing has its own costs.

What Happens Next

Installation is expected to begin within the next few weeks, weather permitting. The council will collect data throughout the trial, including usage counts from existing sensors, feedback from residents, and a wildlife survey conducted before and after installation. A public meeting will be held at the midpoint of the trial to review early findings.

For towpath users, the practical effect will be a brighter walk on one short stretch this winter. For everyone else, the trial is a test case — if it works, similar proposals for other dark sections of the canal are likely to follow. If it doesn't, this half-mile may be the last stretch to get lights for a long while.

Residents who want to weigh in can submit comments through the council's website at any point during the trial. The review is scheduled for late spring.