Birmingham City Council has decided not to leave parks open overnight after community feedback raised concerns about safety and crime.
Birmingham: The city council has made a big decision about its parks. They were thinking about leaving the gates open overnight to save money. But after hearing from locals, they changed their minds.
Last year, the council was in a tight spot financially. They were reviewing how they manage the locking and unlocking of 34 parks. Some folks were worried this could lead to trouble, like crime or vandalism.
Councillor Izzy Knowles voiced her concerns. She thought keeping the parks open could create issues, especially in places like Cannon Hill Park. She warned it might turn into a racetrack at night!
After a trial run at a few parks, the council listened to feedback from volunteers and park users. They realized it wasn’t a good idea to leave the gates unlocked.
Councillor Majid Mahmood confirmed that they would stick to locking the gates. This decision came after hearing from the community, which is always important.
The council has been facing some serious financial challenges lately. They even declared themselves bankrupt last September. With rising demands and budget cuts, they need to be careful with their decisions.
