By CATRIONA STEWART

RUNNERS have joined calls for lighting in city parks claiming they are at risk of injury when training at night.

Bellahouston Road Runners have been petitioning councillors to have lights put in the parks where they run.

These include Bellahouston Park, Glasgow Green and Pollok Country Park.

Danny Phillips, who runs Bellahouston Road Runners, said: “We have had people fall and hurt themselves really badly.

“One member in particular was badly injured.

“The road surfaces are really poor with roots growing up through the tarmac and the quality of the road surfaces in the park are a real issue in themselves.

“But it’s at the point where we don’t think we can train in the parks any more.”

Mr Phillips’s comments follow a campaign from Queens Park resident Chris Pech, who set up a petition calling for lights in Queen’s Park.

Mr Pech was moved to ask Glasgow City Council to light up the park after a serious of rapes, including one on February 1.

Some 60 people train with Bellahouston Road Runners, including those preparing for marathons.

While they run around the edges of Bellahouston Park, those who are working towards long distance runs go between Pollok Park and Glasgow Green, where terrain is most suitable for that training.

Mr Phillips added: “Lighting is better at Glasgow Green and so it is better used at night because of this - at least along the main pathways.

“But I still criticise it as it is still not great, it’s just not pitch black, which bits or Bellahouston park are.

“We aren’t asking for the parks to be lit right through the night - just in the evenings so people can use them for longer.

“In winter it can be dark from 4pm and pitch dark from 5.30pm while we train at 6.30pm.”

A letter from the running club to local councillors reads: “We run in the [Bellahouston Park] regularly, with 40 to 60 runners but we have decided it is not safe and will no longer run this route in the dark.

“We would be more than happy to meet with one or more of you to discuss the issues, or even show you the problems.

“We clearly do expect any immediate solutions, and we also appreciate there is are costs in making improvements like this.

“But we think the park and surrounding area is well used for sport and leisure and it would make sense to ensure it is as safe as possible both for those who use the area and to encourage others to take up a more active lifestyle.”

Glasgow City Council, however, said it has no plans to light up parks.

A spokeswoman said: “All park paths are subject to inspections by staff.

“By the very nature of parks paths, not all are flat and can be uneven as a result of tree routes, however, only potholes or defective surfaces are subject to repair.

“The lighting of parks paths to facilitate running at night is not currently being considered.”