Bradgate Park takes security steps after rise in anti social behaviour
Trust says incidents have risen ‘dramtically’ in their car parks
BRADGATE Park has been forced to introduce security measures after a rise in antisocial behaviour on one of its car parks.
The park’s trust says incidents of ASB have risen ‘dramatically’ in their car parks, including vandalism, littering and drug taking.
Previously incidents have been reported at Swithland Wood South and North car parks and Hunts Hill Car Park, forcing them to close overnight.
Now the issues have arisen at the Hallgates entrance, with cars visiting late at night.
As a result the car park will too be closed overnight, with a gate and ‘crocodile teeth’ installed to secure the site.
A Trust spokesperson said: “We increasingly have cars staying in the night; lights on; damage to infrastructure; loud music; waste left behind including undesirable items for our team to clear including evidence of illegal substances.
“Today for example we have had a large amount of fast food and drink litter, plus tyre marks that show cars have been doing ‘donut spins’.”
All the affected car parks will now be secured from dusk and reopened at 7am.
A statement said: “Unfortunately, following securing other car parks (and deterring ASB), incidents at Hallgates have increased dramatically within the unlocked area throughout the night.
“The changes at Hallgates proposed include (ultimately) making the two sides of the Hallgates car park one way flows with entrance through a gate (secured at dusk) and exit via crocodile teeth.
“This is similar physical security works to all other car parks.
“Initial work at Hallgates is proposed for the next two months, with the ungated side secured first and later in the year the second side having crocodile teeth being added (where currently the gate is secured at dusk).”
A spokesperson said that “genuine visitors” have not been impacted by the changes.
Trust sites are open for visits from 7.45am until dusk, with full permitted lawful access along Public Rights of Way that cross both sites at all times.
Whilst these are the official opening times, the park say they care committed to try and get the newly gated car parks open for 7am.