Agenda item

In response to residents’ concerns about how Bede Park is being used, officers from the City Council’s Parks and Green Spaces service will be at the meeting to discuss these issues.

Councillor Russell introduced this item, explaining that Dave Flavelle, (Area Parks Manager with Leicester City Council), was present at the meeting to discuss problems that had been encountered with barbecues being used in Bede Park.

It was recognised that various other issues regarding how the Park was used were of concern, so a meeting had been arranged for residents of the “herbs streets” to meet various agencies and discuss these other issues.  This would be held on Friday, 1 July 2011 at the East West Community Project.

With regard to previous discussions about the advisability of building a ball park on Bede Park, Councillor Russell advised the Meeting that a ball park would not be built there.

Val Smalley was thanked for finding where the keys to the notice board at the entrance to Bede Park had been stored.  In order to ensure they did not get lost again, it was proposed that the City Warden should keep one and that the other should be held by Ian Smalley of Tin Drum Books.  Mr Smalley confirmed that he was happy to keep the notice board updated.  Any notices for display could be delivered to the shop.

Councillor Russell advised the meeting that the other three notice boards for the area had been manufactured and delivery was awaited.  

Dave Flavelle introduced himself to the Meeting, advising that he was there to discuss issues regarding, and obtain the views of the community on, barbecues on Bede Park.

He explained that Parks Services currently found barbecues being used all over Bede Park, especially on warm or hot days.  These tended to be the self packed, ready to cook type that could be bought from places such as supermarkets.  Barbecues of this type caused fire damage to the grass in the Park and contributed to the litter problem.  Other litter also was generated by people using the barbecues, including alcohol bottles and tins.

Dave Flavelle advised that Leicester City Council Byelaws for Pleasure Grounds, Public Walks and Open Spaces prohibited barbecues unless a designated area had been identified and asked the Meeting for its views on introducing a barbecue designated area on Bede Park.

The following concerns were expressed about this proposal:-

·            Having a designated area would encourage groups of people to sit and drink alcohol in that area, which could contribute to anti-social behaviour in the Park.  Misuse of alcohol in the Park already occurred and appeared to be increasing;

·            There could be an increase in the number of dogs brought in to the Park and there already were problems with people not clearing up waste from their dogs;

·            People would ignore the designated area, or not realise where the area was, and continue to have barbecues wherever they wanted in the Park;

·            Having a designated area for barbecues provided an opportunity for people to enjoy a barbecue without breaking any bye-laws; and

·            At present, the Police had no powers to control the use of barbecues in the Park, but having a designated area would change that situation.

The Meeting suggested that making the Park an alcohol-free zone could help reduce anti-social behaviour problems there.  This could help officials, who could find it difficult to approach people causing a nuisance due to excessive alcohol consumption, as such a zone had worked well in other areas.

The Meeting noted that such a zone would not prevent people sitting outside to drink alcohol in designated premises, such as a café or pub, but they would not be able to sit outside in other areas and drink alcohol.  It was noted that this idea had been rejected when previously considered, but the Ward Councillors were willing to consider it again.

Some reservations were expressed about having an alcohol-free zone operating 24 hours a day, as the area was densely occupied, but had very limited open space.  It also could be difficult to monitor activities over such a long period of time.  It therefore was suggested that the zone could be limited to just operating overnight. 

The following points also were made in discussion:-

·            It currently cost approximately £15 – 16,000 per year to clean Bede Park;

·            A key problem was that at least one of the two supermarkets on the edge of the Park sold disposable barbecues; and

·            Leicestershire Constabulary’s Licensing Officer had encouraged the branch of Sainsbury’s by the Park to agree not to sell drinks in glass bottles.  However, Tesco had not co-operated with this, so Sainsbury’s had reverted to selling drinks in glass bottles.

Post-meeting note:

Following the meeting, it was established that the cost of cleaning Bede Park was approximately £10 – 12,000 per year