A petition requesting the nightly locking of Fassnidge Park in Uxbridge is scheduled to be considered by Councillor Wayne Bridges, Cabinet Member for Community & Environment. The meeting will hear from the petition organiser and discuss the background, evidence, and options for addressing concerns about antisocial behaviour (ASB) in the park.

Petition to Lock Fassnidge Park

The primary focus of the meeting will be a petition signed by 40 residents requesting that the gates of Fassnidge Park be locked each evening. Petitioners cite ongoing antisocial behaviour, noise disturbances, and late-night gatherings as negatively impacting local amenity, safety, and quality of life. The report pack outlines the background to this request, including the specific concerns raised by signatories, such as drug taking, dealing, loud music, parties, fighting, littering, graffiti, and public indecency.

The report pack details the council's current policy, which has moved away from routinely locking parks as part of a boroughwide savings programme. This change, implemented in recent years, aimed to deliver significant annual savings and align Hillingdon with the approach of other local authorities. The report notes that parks will remain unlocked unless there is a clearly evidenced and exceptional local need to reinstate locking.

Several options are presented for the Cabinet Member to consider, including:

• Option A: Do Nothing: Retain the current boroughwide approach, keeping Fassnidge Park unlocked at all times.
• Option B: Introduce Nightly Locking (All Gates): Adopt the full locking regime requested by petitioners, requiring staff or contractors to attend twice daily.
• Option C: Partial Locking: Lock only specific entrances where ASB is most commonly reported.
• Option D: Infrastructure Based Deterrents: Introduce measures such as CCTV, improved lighting, or strengthened vehicle barriers.
• Option E: Community or Volunteer Involvement: Work with local volunteer groups to manage gate locking.
• Option F: Enhanced Monitoring: Increase targeted ASB patrols or coordinate joint operations with the Police's Safer Neighbourhood Team.

The report pack highlights that introducing nightly locking would create additional ongoing revenue costs for staff or contractors, estimated in the tens of thousands of pounds per year if replicated boroughwide, alongside potential one-off costs for gate improvements and signage. Any locking arrangement would require spend control approval and budget reallocation, as there is currently no approved budget for reinstating park locking. The report also notes that the Green Spaces, Sports and Culture service was reporting an adverse variance of £595k as at Month 7.

Legal Services has confirmed that the recommendations fall within the Cabinet Member's delegated authority. However, they stress that any decision must be taken in accordance with the Council's statutory powers, general duties, and established principles of lawful decision-making, including considering all relevant factors such as the evidence of ASB, financial and operational implications, the current policy, and the availability of alternatives. The Cabinet Member must also comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, ensuring any decision does not disproportionately disadvantage persons with protected characteristics.

The meeting is scheduled to be chaired by Councillor Wayne Bridges, Cabinet Member for Community & Environment. The report pack was prepared by James Bell, Green Spaces Technical Manager, with input from Chris Wheeler, Director of Environment, and Jordan Groves, Head of Waste and Green Spaces. Anisha Teji from Democratic Services is the contact for the meeting. The meeting will also be attended by Lloyd White, Head of Democratic Services.