Residents ‘unaware’ of change of heart over previous action taken to deter anti-social behaviour after dark
CONFUSED Canton residents have been left in the dark about a change of heart on locking the gates at Thompson’s Park.
Cardiff council had been locking the gates 30 minutes before sunset to combat what it described as a rise in reports of anti-social behaviour in the park.
But a decision to leave the park gates open at night was taken in September after only limited evidence was found to support anecdotal claims of unruly behaviour.
This change, which has not been officially communicated to residents, left park-goers unaware that the space can be used at all times of the day.
“I didn’t know the park is now staying open … I usually look at the park gates to see when it closes,” said regular park user Amanda Johns.
The opening time signs at the park’s two entrances have been removed but not replaced with new information.
“Once a week or fortnight they would change the closing times, but now I’m unaware of what the policy is,” said dog-walker Alex Middleton.
The council decided to leave the gates open during lockdown but in 2022 the early closing was announced after reports of anti-social behaviour by residents.
“It’s been a little bit up and down since Covid, it’s a sensitive subject and there is a divergence of views on it,” said Canton Councillor Stephen Cunnah.
“Personally I don’t think it should be locked, parents want to walk their kids through the park and in winter, that becomes difficult,” he added.
The change of policy has left residents confused.
Stella Austin, 81, who visits the park regularly to spend time on her mother’s memorial bench, was unaware of the latest developments.
“It was my firm belief that the park was being closed – we have not been told otherwise,” she said.
“They used to change the closing times as the sunset arrived earlier but now the signs have gone,” she added.
The Outdoor Cardiff website, which is operated by Cardiff Council, had been publicly displaying the park as closing “30 minutes before sunset all year round”.
This was only updated to display the current locking arrangements after The Cardiffian contacted the council for comment on November 7.
A council spokesperson said: “Following extensive door-to-door local engagement with nearby residents as well as with ward councillors and South Wales Police, there was very limited evidence to support anecdotal claims of anti-social behaviour and the park reverted to being left unlocked, so that the community could benefit from increased access to their local green space.”
The council did not provide information as to why the new opening arrangement had not been communicated to residents, but urged people to report any incidents of anti-social behaviour to the police by calling the non-emergency 101 number.
