23HOTSPOTS FOR FLOUTING LOCKDOWN REGULATIONS
Problems in many parks and play areas More patrols to ensure we social distance
PARKS, sports grounds and beauty spots where people have been flouting social distancing during lockdown have been identified by council officials.
They said the challenge of policing social distancing in the hotspots is growing increasingly challenging, though extra patrols are to be carried out.
Problem sites could be closed.
MORE than 20 hotspot parks, sports grounds and beauty spots around Leicester where people have been flouting social distancing during lockdown have been identified.
Parks staff said there have been parties, barbecues, drinking alcohol, cricket tournaments, football matches and other gatherings which they said are becoming increasingly difficult to deal with as the local lockdown continues.
Leicester City Council has kept open its parks and recreation grounds so far during lockdown – but said it could use available powers to start shutting them if problems persist.
Council officers have been patrolling 140 parks, nature reserves, community gardens and similar sites to encourage social distancing and ensure the 247 play areas, outdoor gyms and ballcourts which are still closed remain unused.
In a report to be considered by councillors next week, officers said: “This is challenging for the team and has become increasingly more difficult as the weeks have gone by.
“To support the team in managing the extended lockdown introduced on June 29 for a minimum of two weeks, additional resources are being arranged to patrol the key sites of concern to manage social distancing and disband gatherings of more than six.
“These patrols have been arranged for the two weekends during the extended lockdown from 3pm to 10pm, with the potential extension over the weekend of July 18-19.
“Where a park warden becomes concerned that users on a site are not adhering to social distancing and/or there is a gathering which is a cause of concern, they will report their concerns to the parks security officer for a decision to close part or all of a site.
“This could, for example, be a car park to restrict vehicle access and numbers.
“Any decision to close a site will consider the impact on other local green space and in terms of the closure of any car park the impact on the immediate neighbourhood.
“For example, displacement at Watermead has significantly impacted on Alderton Close residents in the past.
“Consideration needs to be given to the wider population in terms of impact on the removal of the availability of an open space for exercise, which is a government recommendation.
“As part of the decision process, all sites have been assessed and ranked in terms of their suitability for closure as most cannot realistically be closed.
“Victoria Park, for example, has open access and would be resourceintensive for both the local authority and the police to manage and enforce.
“Parks have a stock of laminated site closed signage and locks and chains for use on gated sites.
“There is a limited supply of fencing which can be deployed if required in the medium term.
“We are also putting out messages in the media and on social media.
“The public are still not able to use areas like playgrounds or outdoor gyms where there is a higher risk of close contact and touching surfaces.
“On this basis, we are therefore keeping our play areas and outdoor gyms closed.
“Given ballcourts provide for team sports that often involve close contact, ballcourts are currently to remain closed.
“The ballcourts present an interesting challenge – the guidance does
not specifically mention them. Tennis courts and basketball courts were allowed to reopen on May 13 as part of the relaxation to allow exercise
“However, in Leicester, our basketball courts form part of multi-use courts used for team sports which were still banned under the guidelines. Therefore ballcourts remained closed.
“The toilet facilities on parks were closed at the start of lockdown and following work to make them Covidcompliant were reopened on June 25.
“Outdoor gyms, play areas and ballcourts were due to reopen on July 4.
“However, these have been suspended in line with the lockdown restrictions.
“Social distance messaging is, in addition, being posted on our social media sites.
“Ballcourts with persistent prob
lems, where people have been reminded that they cannot use them, include Nelson Mandela Park, Victoria Park, Spinney Hill Park and Aylestone Recreation Ground in particular.
“Outdoor gyms at Nelson Mandela Park and Victoria Park have consistently had users on them even though they have been locked where gated or taped off on several occasions.”
The council said security guards could be deployed at sites that are closed.
The report said: “Recently, concerns have been raised around organised cricket matches at Evington Park, Rushey Fields Recreation Ground and Spinney Hill Park.
“Additional resources are being aimed at these sites in partnership with
police colleagues in an attempt to reinforce the messaging around social distancing and social gatherings. “The police have the powers to enforce closures if people do not comply with them.
“The police will act with discretion and common sense in applying these measures, but if anyone breaches the law, the police may instruct them to go home, leave an area or disperse, and they may instruct an individual to take steps to stop your children breaking these rules if they have already done so.
“The police can also take an individual home or arrest them where they believe it is necessary.”
Under Leicester lockdown laws fines of up to £3,200 could be imposed.
The public are still not able to use areas like playgrounds or outdoor gyms
Council report