Issue - meetings

Councillor Harlow, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, introduced the recommendation of the Executive to support the Motion submitted by Councillor Whitehand, which sought the adoption of policies which would seek to ensure that women felt safe in Woking’s public places.

The motion was welcomed by the Council and it was

RESOLVED

That the Motion be supported.

Reporting Person – Corporate Leadership Team

At its meeting on 2 December 2021, the Council referred the following Notice of Motion to the Executive.

Councillor M Whitehand

“The Council will bring forward policies that ensure women feel safe when out and about in Woking’s public places.  One of which should be the designation of women only parking places in its car parks during the hours of darkness, especially those sited near staircases and entrances.  Women’s safety should feature greatly in its community safety programme and every endeavour be given in establishing what areas can be reviewed that would deliver such assurance.”

Councillor Whitehand attended the meeting and spoke in support of the Motion.  Discussion ensued on the advantages and disadvantages of women only parking spaces, and it was noted that neither the Council’s Parking Service Manager or Surrey Police Designing Out Crime Officer (DOCO) were aware of any segregated type parking facility in the UK.  The Executive was informed that the DOCO recommended that female only areas were not used and that people who were concerned around their safety should be encouraged to use the main car parks around the Peacocks Centre due to the high footfall.

Councillor Harlow, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, welcomed the Motion and was supportive of promoting more awareness of the measures already in place, such as clearly signed help points in the Council’s main larger car parks which were linked to the control room and manned 24 hours.  It was noted that the Council’s car parks had been awarded the Park Mark, a Police Crime Prevention Initiative aimed at reducing crime and fear of crime in parking facilities.  Officers would continue to look at further improvements in order to ensure women felt safe in the Council’s car parks.

RECOMMENDED to Council

That the Motion be supported.