CONCERNS about women feeling unsafe on Salisbury’s streets have been highlighted again after a survey found dozens of streetlights across the city are still not working.

Members of the Salisbury Soroptimists carried out their fifth annual street lighting survey, joined by Wiltshire councillor Sven Hocking and Salisbury city councillor Sharon Rideout.

The group found that only nine of the 32 lights reported as faulty last year had been repaired.

During the latest inspection, a further 35 faulty lights were reported through the MyWilts app and to the area board, along with a number of poorly lit areas identified by residents.

Cllr Sven Hocking with Salisbury Soroptimist members.

Liz Batten, from Salisbury Soroptimists, said improving lighting is one of the simplest ways to help people feel safer at night.

“We will continue to press the council to improve their attention to street lighting,” she said. “Lighting is one of the quickest and most effective way to help everyone feel safer on dark nights.”

The group has been campaigning to improve safety for women in the city since the murder of Sarah Everard in 2021 prompted national concern about women’s safety in public spaces.

A spokesperson for Wiltshire Council said the authority takes reports of faulty lighting seriously.

Cabinet member for highways, streetscene and flooding Cllr Martin Smith said: “We are committed to ensuring that lighting across Salisbury is maintained so that people feel safe when out and about.

“We welcome the work carried out by the Salisbury Soroptimists and value the feedback they gather each year.

“We are happy to continue working closely with them and if they are able to share the full list of lights identified during their survey, we will review each one, confirm which assets belong to the council and progress repairs where the lights are within our ownership.”

He added that not all streetlights in the city are maintained by the council, with some belonging to organisations such as National Highways or located on private land.

The survey comes as the Soroptimists are supporting a campaign aimed at encouraging men to help women feel safer.

To mark International Women’s Day on Sunday (March 8), the group is promoting The Good Guys Guide, a campaign highlighting seven ways men can make women feel safer in public spaces.

Stickers promoting the advice will be distributed around Salisbury in the hope men will “take the messages on board and talk to their mates about them”.

The Soroptimists said: “The Good Guys recognise that most men are not a threat to women, but they can help women realise that by following these rules. Safety on our streets is everyone’s responsibility.”