This is the ‘dark and daunting’ road near Salford University’s union which students are petitioning to be lit over fear of attacks.

Almost 500 people have backed Niamh Shackleton’s campaign to improve lighting on Wallness Lane, which runs through Peel Park and alongside the sports fields.

Second year student Niamh launched her petition last week after being told of people being followed and assaulted on the lane.

The 20-year-old works in the Student Union bar, and says that many of her colleagues are nervous to walk home after their shift because of how dark it is.

She said: “A lot of the time some of the guys go out of their way to walk the girls home, even if it’s in completely the wrong direction.

“I know some girls that have been followed down there, it’s pretty daunting.

“I filmed this video walking down the lane at 5pm and it’s bad then – just imagine what it’s like at 1am when we finish work.

(Image: UGC)

“Mums with prams walk down there as well, it’s not just students, we want the lighting improved for everyone’s safety.”

Niamh, who is studying journalism, says most students have to walk along Wallness Lane to get home.

“At the moment I’m lucky as I currently live in accommodation really close to the union but next year I’m moving.

“I’m a 5ft 2in 20-year-old, I’ve not got much fight going for me if anything were to happen when I was walking home and it’s terrifying to think about. I can’t understand why something hasn’t been done sooner, it’s been a problem for years and we know there have been several assaults around here.

“No one should have to fear walking down there. The streets should be safe for all, especially around the university.”

Niamh’s petition has already got people talking with more than 75 comments on the website alone in support of her campaign.

One woman wrote: “I feel very strongly about this petition having had an incident on Wallness Lane myself that could have become worse. It needs to be more lit up.”

David Moma added: “This is very necessary for the safety of the students and should be treated as URGENT. Not only Wallness Lane but also Peel Park as people transit there to the library and university.”

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

Jade Dubinsky said: “Feel very unsafe walking down that road in the dark.”

A spokesman for the University of Salford said: “This is a busy student walk through from the Peel Campus to student houses and halls including the IQ Quarter and tramways and runs alongside our new David Lewis Playing Fields.

“We have been asking the council to provide better lighting and maintenance on this road for some time, and have ourselves paid for floodlights and four security cameras and cut back trees to help make students feel safer.

“We have called a meeting with the Student Union this (Thursday) evening when we will walk the path together to assess precisely what more we want from the council, and what more we can do immediately.”

Ceewhy Ochoga, President of the University of Salford Students’ Union, said: "The Students’ Union here at Salford is actively supporting Niamh and we are of the view that lighting in the external areas of campus need improvement.

"As a student here, I have personal experience of the poor lighting in the areas just outside our main campus, and I know that it causes worry and concern for students and residents in general after dark.

"I have had positive discussions with the University about this and I am meeting the University’s head of Security and Dean of Students for a ‘walk through’ this evening around the Wallness Lane area, and I will continue to lobby both the University and local Council to address the poor lighting situation – it is simply not good enough to expect Salford students and residents to avoid certain walking routes as soon as it gets dark at 4pm."

Coun Derek Antrobus, lead member for planning and sustainable development, said: “We do take student safety seriously and work with the University to ensure students are safe . We will look into the issues raised when we receive the petition, as we do with all petitions to the council.”

To support Niamh’s petition, visit www.ipetitions.com/petition/light-up-salford