AN £100,000 scheme to improve lighting in the city centre has been approved in a bid to make the streets safer for women.

Brighton and Hove City Council said work to upgrade the street lighting in the Old Steine area of the city, adjacent to the Royal Pavilion and gardens, is to begin immediately.

Further improvements to the city’s lighting will be made when work on phase three of the Valley Gardens project begins.

The money has been granted by the Safer Streets Fund, which provides money to introduce neighbourhood measures such as better lighting and CCTV.

Steph Powell, co-chairwoman of the council’s tourism, equalities, communities and culture committee, said: “This is great news for improving the street lighting around the Old Steine area of the city that I know has been a concern for many people.

“We are committed to making public spaces safer for women and girls. The high-profile murders of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa and sadly of many more women before and since, is a reminder of the constant risks faced by women, which as a society we must address.

"Together with work in our schools and along the seafront during key times, we’re determined to make the city safe and accessible for everyone.”

Earlier this month, Sussex was awarded almost £1 million from the Home Office as part of the Safer Streets Fund to tackle violence against women and girls.

As well as improving street lighting, they money will also go towards educational projects and installing additional CCTV.

Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said: “Earlier this month my office secured nearly £1m from the Government’s latest Safer Streets fund to tackle violence against women and girls, the fourth highest amount of any area in the country to bring a lasting and effective response.

“In Brighton, this will help to improve street lighting and CCTV at the War Memorial, Old Steine and Pavilion Gardens, some of those areas identified as being of biggest concern to residents.

“My office will ensure we identify all available opportunities to channel funding to support the work of the police, local authorities and specialist organisations and will continue to work closely with our partners.

“The events of the past few weeks have rightly made us question whether we have a societal problem of male violence against women, so I applaud every effort being made to address it head-on.”

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