Pledge for improved lighting

Plans to enhance safety near Victoria University’s main campus have been welcomed by its student association after two alleged assaults in the area.

Wellington Deputy Mayor and mayoral candidate Justin Lester has announced plans to further upgrade laneways and improve street lighting in the university area, if he wins October’s election.

His announcement comes just days after students reported hearing of sexual and physical attacks near the campus.

‘‘I want to ensure every Wellingtonian can feel safe getting around our city at night,’’ Lester said.

‘‘As mayor, I will prioritise new laneway upgrades to Forresters Lane, Wigan St and Plimmers Steps, that includes better lighting.

‘‘I want Wellington’s laneways to outstrip Melbourne. As well as making the laneways more vibrant, the upgrades [will] make them safer due to better lighting and more people and businesses coming into them.’’

Trouble spots tended to be in laneways and pedestrian access routes that were not well lit, or where there was low foot traffic, Lester said.

Victoria University student association president Jonathan Gee said he had been pushing for better lighting in the area for some time.

The area between The Terrace and Boyd Wilson Field was identified as high risk in 2014, and lighting and security cameras were installed.

But improvements should not end there, Gee said.

‘‘We support any move to prioritise lighting. I don’t have any specific figures but reports of issues there [between The Terrace and Boyd Wilson Field] have reduced. But it is always something we need to keep looking at.’’

Maintenance of walkways was also important because overgrown vegetation could provide a place for predators to hide, Gee said.