The Cabinet Member for Community & Environment, Councillor Wayne Bridges, met to consider a petition requesting the nightly locking of Fassnidge Park in Uxbridge. While the petition highlighted significant concerns about antisocial behaviour, a decision was postponed pending verification of police data and exploration of alternative solutions.

Fassnidge Park Locking Petition

Councillor Wayne Bridges, Cabinet Member for Community & Environment, heard a petition from residents requesting that the gates of Fassnidge Park in Uxbridge be locked each evening. The petitioners stated that ongoing antisocial behaviour (ASB), including noise disturbances, vandalism, drug activity, and late-night gatherings, was negatively impacting the local community. They argued that the park's urban setting and dense population made the council's current policy of keeping parks unlocked unsuitable, and that previous locking arrangements had been effective. Proposals for automated locking, raised fencing, and emergency signage were presented, alongside suggestions for manual or volunteer-led schemes.

Councillor Tony Burles, the Ward Councillor for Uxbridge, supported the petition, emphasising the importance of resident safety and noting that the park's central location attracted late-night crowds. A written submission from Councillor Farhad Choubedar was also received, expressing support for nightly gate locking and improved fencing, while also acknowledging the need for other measures such as lighting, CCTV, and increased ASB patrols in partnership with the police.

Jordan Groves, Head of Waste and Green Spaces, explained that the decision to cease locking park gates borough-wide was a cost-saving measure, saving approximately £35,000 annually. He noted that many other councils had adopted a similar approach without seeing an increase in ASB, although he acknowledged that park circumstances varied. Mr. Groves also stated that while ASB could be reported at any time, responses were limited outside of standard working hours, and that the options suggested by residents had been previously examined.

Further petitioners voiced concerns that the financial savings did not justify the impact on safety, particularly in light of a reported serious sexual assault. They also raised issues regarding limited police availability at weekends and the long-term decline of the park, stressing the importance of reinstating nightly locking to preserve the park as a valuable local asset.

Councillor Bridges noted a discrepancy between the data presented in the officer report and the accounts provided by the petitioners. Consequently, he determined that a decision could not be made until the statistics had been verified. He expressed disappointment at the limited police input into the process and instructed officers to obtain further data from the police and to explore the feasibility of a voluntary gate-locking scheme. The petition and the council's current policy were noted, and Councillor Bridges assured attendees that the lead petitioner would be kept informed of further developments.

The Cabinet Member noted the petition and considered the residents' request. He also noted the Council's current policy position on park locking and its associated financial and operational implications. Crucially, he instructed officers to seek additional data from the police and any supporting statistics before a full determination could be made.¹