The City of Sydney has refused to install more lighting in a Surry Hills park to make women feel safer because it would add to their “carbon footprint”.

The proposal for more lighting was put forward after several women said they were afraid to exercise in Prince Alfred Park at night or early in the morning because it isn’t adequately lit.

Trainer at Shift Wellbeing Hannah Porteus tells Ben Fordham she trains a group in the park after dark, but many women are too afraid to attend.

“It’s pitch dark before we get up there, so we always bring two torches per trainer and we’ll floodlight the area.

“There’s always about three or four guys training up there, but there’s no women to be seen throughout winter months which is such a shame.”

But Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s council has rejected the proposal, saying any further lighting would “add to the city’s carbon footprint”.

It comes after the council declared a climate emergency last month.

They also claimed the park is already adequately lit, but Hannah says that’s simply not true.

“It’s not a super safe area and in those dark areas it doesn’t feel good to be training there as a woman.”

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview

Image: Getty / Jennifer Polixenni Brankin

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