A new team hired to lock up Havering's parks is expected to start in the new year - paid for by enforcing littering and dog fouling rules.
Havering Council cabinet's decision to stop locking 22 of the borough's parks overnight caused concern about a potential rise in antisocial behaviour.
Following the decision, Cllr Paul Middleton, cabinet member for corporate, culture and leisure services, told the Recorder an eight-week bidding process was underway to find a new provider.
Cllr Middleton has since said that while he is “not clear” on when exactly the process will end, he understands it will be up and running in the new year.
“If all goes to plan, it is expected that the new team will be responsible for not only locking the gates, but also enforcing in the parks - dog fouling, littering, vandalism, graffiti, etc) – [and] it is expected this will happen from next year,” he said.
Asked how the new team will fit in with the council's need for savings, especially given the decision to leave the parks unlocked was to avoid the £100,000-a-year spent locking them at night, Cllr Middleton said the intention is it will be paid from fees generated out of enforcement.
“This will be trialled to check for effectiveness and will hopefully improve our parks and open space,” he added.
Among those to raise concerns about the decision to leave the parks unlocked was Robert Hooper.
Mr Hooper, who lives near Hylands Park in Hornchurch, said he was worried about the impact on the park and those with homes nearby.
Rates of antisocial behaviour had fallen in the park over the years, he said, with its Green Flag evidence of the improvements made.
However, he described the recent decision as giving “carte blanche” to those who wish to do harm.
An online consultation seeking residents’ views on the future of Havering’s parks is also currently live, to close on November 11.
The information will feed into a draft 10-year strategy to be presented to the council’s cabinet.
To fill out the consultation, do so via the link here: https://consultation.havering.gov.uk/environment/parks-strategy-survey/
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