On November 20th 2024, Havering Councillors met to debate safety in our parks.
The motion, put forward by the Conservatives, stated that the levels of antisocial behaviour (ASB) were unacceptable. We called on the HRA to bring forward an action-plan, present it to council, and to start locking the parks again.
Unhappy with our motion, the HRA amended the wording of it. They stripped out the part where we called the levels of ASB 'antisocial' and they removed the section on locking the parks. Instead they 'recognised' the levels of antisocial behaviour, and agreed to a report.
During my speech, I highlighted a series of recent attacks on women and the vulnerable in our parks. I was interrupted by the HRA Cabinet Member (Cllr Barry Mugglestone), who told me that these things don't happen at night and so are not to do with locking the parks!
Most of Havering's parks weren't locked anyway, or can't be locked. This is used as a defence for not locking those that can or were, along with budget cuts. However, I argue that Romford's parks are different. As a town we have higher levels of ASB, our parks are in residential areas and back onto houses and gardens, and there are frequent reports of crime in them.
When they were in opposition, the HRA walked out of a meeting after Conservatives told them the parks would go to ruin under the HRA. Cllrs, including the now Leader, stood outside the Town Hall and complained about things such as the spend on Green Flags (something now celebrated by the HRA).
It's very frustrating when people from outside Romford, living in leafy suburbs like Cranham, clearly don't understand that our parks are not like theirs. Yet another reason we need strong Romford voices in the Town Hall!
This debate was in November, months before the horrific allegation of a serious sexual assault in Raphael's Park this February.
We should not use such incidents as political tools, being mindful of the victim first.
However, this horrific attack serves as another reminder that something does need to be done. If we can't lock the parks, or won't, then we should at least look at CCTV coverage around the entrances and exits.
I have launched a petition calling on the council to make our parks safer. If you agree, please sign my petition on the link below.
You can also watch my speech below.
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