Lighting / safety — micro start · Leith

What “done” looks like

You have one named route (from → to), 2–3 place photos or a clear note of what is wrong, and a decision: stop, report single lamps, write councillors, or open the full lighting campaign.

Effort: 30–60 minutes this evening

Why this matters here

Leith · this ward only

After-dark routes in Leith matter for people walking to work, buses, schools and homes. Use CSS Assets (schools, bus-side paths) only as context — document one real route.

Before you start

Pairs only after dark — never alone.
Tell someone your route and return time.
Document place, not people or faces.
One route only for this micro start.
Pairs only after dark.
Tell someone your route.
Document place, not people.

Letter for this ward

Prefills this ward. Fill the square brackets, then send. Councillor inboxes are not held — use WriteToThem.

Send to

Lighting / safe route in Leith — inspection request

Subject: Lighting / safe route in Leith — inspection request

Dear Councillors,

I am a resident of Leith ward (City of Edinburgh).

A route in this ward feels unsafe after dark: from [PLACE A] to [PLACE B]. Problems seen: [broken lamps / no lighting / overgrown hedges].

Held public figures for this ward (Community Shield Scotland — official sources only):
• Police recorded 3,008 crimes in this ward in 2024–25 (301 more than 2023–24). Source: Police Scotland multi-member ward figures — management information, not official statistics.
• Children in low income: 12.3% — 371 children · before housing costs · FYE 2025. Source: DWP CiLIF.
• 15.9% of people here live in Scotland’s most deprived fifth of areas. Source: SIMD 2020v2, rolled from data zones to this ward.
• In the 2022 local election, Scottish National Party led on first preferences (32.6% of first preferences).
• Community assets held for this ward: 44 (4 schools · 5 GP · 6 pharmacy).

What I am asking:
1. Inspect this route
2. Repair or improve lighting (and cut back vegetation if that is the issue)
3. A written reply within 14 days saying what will be done and by when

These counts describe the ward. They do not say who committed a crime or who is to blame. I am not asking you to treat residents as offenders.

Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
[Street or area in this ward]
[Date]

Open blank email

Paste into WriteToThem — we do not hold personal inboxes.

Path from idea to done

Seven fixed phases — skip only when the guide says so

Pick one route
From place A to place B that people actually use after dark.
~5 min
Quick FixMyStreet scan
Search the stretch for open lamp reports.
~10 minFixMyStreet

Funding (if needed)

No-money first · local · national

No-money path

Micro start is free: walk, photos, FixMyStreet, short message.

Local routes

City of Edinburgh — Community Grants Fund
small
Official council funding hub. Programmes open and close — check the live page for eligibility and deadlines.
Official page
Foundation Scotland — funds near you
small
Many local and thematic funds are searchable by postcode or council area. Check live eligibility and deadlines.
Official page
National Lottery Community Fund (Scotland)
larger
Scotland programmes from micro to larger community grants. Always use the current official programme list.
Official page
Council in-kind support
micro
Bags and collection for clean-ups, room hire, inspections, or land permission. Often more useful than a small grant. Ask the service team in writing.
Search your council website — check the live page
Community council grants / endorsement
micro
Some community councils hold small pots or can endorse applications. Find yours on this ward’s Your representatives page and ask at a public meeting.
Search your council website — check the live page

National routes (Scotland)

Amounts and deadlines change. Always use the official page. We never invent figures.

Downloads

Pre-filled with Leith and Edinburgh where useful

Full guide (idea → done)
00-lighting-micro-guide.txt
Evidence checklist
01-lighting-micro-evidence-checklist.txt
Night-walk photo log
02-night-walk-photo-log.csv

Official links

Deeper information

If you’re stuck · common mistakes

Stuck paths

Too dark/scared: do daytime photo of the path + dusk description without walking alone.
Only one lamp: FixMyStreet is enough — no campaign needed yet.

Common mistakes

Walking alone after dark for “evidence”.
Filming people instead of the path.
Trying to fix the whole ward in one micro start.

All actions Your representatives