A report has revealed that a decision to stop locking Burntwood parks at night has not led to an increase in anti-social behaviour.
Lichfield District Council agreed a plan to end the practice of locking up the town’s five parks each night in 2016 as part of the Fit for the Future programme designed to plug a hole in the local authority’s funding.
At the time, talks were underway to transfer ownership of the spaces to Burntwood Town Council so a final decision on axing the service was delayed – but the switch never happened.
A report from Cllr David Leytham, Cabinet member of leisure, waste and operational services, revealed that because the budget had already been adjusted, gates could no longer be locked after 1st April 2018.
It added that in 2017/18, the council paid £10,585 to a security firm to carry out the task.
“The police have confirmed as of March 2019 that there has not been an increase in anti-social behaviour within Burntwood parks since the gates have been left unlocked,” Cllr Leytham’s report said.
The figures reveal that in 2017 and 2018, nine incidents were reported to police each year, while from January to March of this year just three incidents have been recorded.
The report will be heard at a meeting of the operational services, leisure and waste overview and scrutiny committee at Lichfield District Council on 26th March.
