Security Lighting Mercer Park

[park381]

Following an article in this weeks Observer, where Cllr O'Kane indicated that a couple of years ago they installed lighting in Mercer Park, "as a result the cases of vandalism fell to a tenth of what it was".

Is there anyone posting on here that lives near to Mercer Park, and can verify Cllr. O'Kanes comments, has the lighting reduced vandalism or has it caused more problems, would be interested to know

[Margaret Pilkington]

I live near Mercer Park, but would not go in there at night.....lighting or no lighting!
It is full of kids/teens, drinking, smoking and generally carrying on.

[park381]

Thanks for the reply Margaret,

so would you say that the lights have made no difference to the vandal problems, have the lights encouraged the teens to stay in the park after dark. Cllr. O'Kane seems to think the lights have reduced the problem

[Margaret Pilkington]

As I said I rarely go into the park these days, but if I remember rightly there was some new play equipment installed fairly recently and it was vandalised within a few days..... not sure if this area is lit.....or for that matter whether it was vandalised during the day. I suppose it depends on your point of view as well..... if there has been a 1% reduction in vandalism Cllr O'Kane will promote it and say it is due to the area being lit.

[Margaret Pilkington]

As someone famous once said 'there are lies, damned lies and statistics'

[Margaret Pilkington]

I don't trust anything that politicians tell me these days......and that includes the local mob.

[park381]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

As I said I rarely go into the park these days, but if I remember rightly there was some new play equipment installed fairly recently and it was vandalised within a few days..... not sure if this area is lit.....or for that matter whether it was vandalised during the day. I suppose it depends on your point of view as well..... if there has been a 1% reduction in vandalism Cllr O'Kane will promote it and say it is due to the area being lit.

The reason for the questions are that HBC have just got planning permission to install an 8metre high lighting column in the play area in Rhyddings park. The youths use this area as a meeting / drinking place but on most nights they move off when it goes dark, to an area with some light. With the new light installed and switched on they will have no need to move away.
The planning permission is only for a period of 12 months, in their words "to see if it works" plus we have cllrs. that don't live within viewing distance of the play area saying "with the light there WE will be able to see them" This is where Cllr O'Kane came in with his comments about the effect of the lights in Mercer park

[Margaret Pilkington]

I would be interested to see what happens then in your neck of the woods.

[park381]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

I would be interested to see what happens then in your neck of the woods.

Margaret, so will I, will keep you posted after the big "switch on"

[simon]

The council will not enforce the sign they have put in the play area saying for under 12's only.... they now want to encourage them even more..

Easy.... enforce that age limit and it will be used as intented

[Margaret Pilkington]

Who is going to enforce those rules after dark????? this is when the teens will use the place and congregate to drink and do numerous unsavoury other things.

[park381]

Think Margaret is correct, the light will encourage them "over 12's" to stay on

[Margaret Pilkington]

There will be some of those 12 year olds who will need to shave!

[park381]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

There will be some of those 12 year olds who will need to shave!

TRUE