Forum Topic

Increased security in the parks

See front page story.I'm sure we all welcome this, but what would be nice is a number that we can call to contact the teams if, say, we see incidents of anti-social behaviour that don't merit a 999 or even a 101.

Susan Kelly ● 5036d7 Comments

So glad that someone else remembers them.I grew up using Elthorne Park and 'Paddy' was an absolute legend; the shouts of 'get off that bike' or 'you're too old for the swings' would carry across the park with his gently-accented but Stentorian voice. Much missed.

Nigel Brooks ● 5034d

Absolutely, with the shiny peaks on their caps and the six inch spikes on their park-keepers litter picking sticks no one dared not to do what they said. Instead we had "rangers" who built hotels for rodents and insects, and now?

Annabelle McKinnon ● 5034d

Strange isn't it? Parks used to have park keepers who, when dusk fell, would blow their whistle and lock the park gates. Woe betide any anti-social behaviour which was nipped in the bud by a man who all the user respected and whose presence was a reason that mny would happily let the children go to the park unaccompanied.How things change.

Nigel Brooks ● 5034d

As the nightly locking up of parks was performed by Ealing Council's environment contractor I smell a cock-up of typical Bell/Mahfouz/Smith/Townsend-like proportions: could it be that in negotiating the contract with the love-to-hate-them Enterprise for the parks maintenance they overlooked to write in the bit about being responsible for locking the parks up at night?

Annabelle McKinnon ● 5034d

I suspect that the people whose houses back onto the parks do not welcome their being left unlocked at night.As to how this would save money: by not having to send someone round to lock up at night and unlock in the morning, I suppose. Can't cost much, surely.

Susan Kelly ● 5035d

Re  by not locking the public out of a number of its parks at night.            xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    excuse my ignorance, but how would this raise money, I am not aware of Parks that charge for entry?. There used to be a Park Rangers number one could call, does such not still exist, ( 0208 758 8181) but seemingly no longer valid, but may have been replaced?

Tony Price ● 5035d

I don't welcome it particularly. It's bad enough with PCSOs strolling around, making up powers and bullying people.I think I read somewhere else that the extra security is being paid for by not locking the public out of a number of its parks at night. That at least is a good side effect.

M. Duley ● 5035d