When crime is rife, and it is felt that no one cares, then people
stop reporting crime anymore, because, “What’s the point? They never do
anything about it!” It was for this reason that Neighbourhood Watch and Park
Watch schemes were first set up to capitalise on community involvement.
Ten years ago, Winsford Gardens, Penge, London, was mostly unknown even to
local residents. It had been well-kept during the 1980’s but left to it’s own
devices in more recent years. If it was known, then it was avoided because it
was overgrown with no clear lines of sight, and it was a haunt of alcoholics, for
drug injecting and general anti-social behaviour. No one cared about that unloved
place, and if that had continued it would have fallen further into dereliction,
and then it would have be very likely to have been sold for housing development.
Winsford Gardens changed in 2011. By tidying it up and
keeping it clean, adding new beds, features and flowers, the Penge Green Gym
made it welcoming and inviting once again. As more people used the park, and
saw that people cared about the space, it also became safer to use. We still
had vandalism and setbacks, especially in the hours after dark, but the presence
of local people who felt they now owned this park eventually meant that the
anti-social behaviour moved elsewhere. This has reached a peak during lockdown.
The park is heavily used every day by people of all ages including families. A playgroup
visits most days. Parents feel the playground is safe for young children to
play. If there is any anti-social behaviour, then other park users immediately
tell us about it. People are so appreciative of the space we have created that
they now give us cash donations, some on a regular monthly basis. We have
achieved Community Green Flag status for the last five years running, were
awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, and have been showered with
other awards.
This was not hugely expensive to achieve. Local volunteers
gave their time for free. Tools, equipment and signage were donated by a local
companies. We have been very successful at applying for and winning grant
funding. All that it really required really was for some people to give a damn!
And to have the full backing of Bromley Council.
Now contrast Winsford Gardens with it’s nearest local park,
Betts Park, where it appears that Bromley Council has given up on keeping it
safe anymore. In a full council meeting on Monday 20th July 2020,
responding to questions following the recent murder there; a shooting to the
back of the head, the portfolio holder for Public Protection refused any CCTV
in the park. Councillor Lymer says people should avoid going to parks when it’s
dark, and for years the Council has continued to decline calls to provide more
lighting in Betts Park and other local parks, saying that they did not want
people to be given the impression that the parks were safe places after dark.
This is simply unacceptable. We cannot have "No Go
Areas" or a curfew within our city, especially places where children and
young families go to play and to exercise. Local people now avoid Betts Park.
There is little point in keeping the grass cut, planting flower beds and installing
outdoor exercise equipment if people do not feel safe. This becomes a self-perpetuating
downward cycle in the manner of the Stockholm Syndrome and Broken Window Theory,
when the visible signs of crime, anti-social behaviour, and civil disorder
create an urban environment that encourages further crime and disorder,
including more serious crimes.
If you use Winsford Gardens as a case study, then you cannot
hope to turn things around until you first give the impression that the park is
safe and that you are doing everything in your power to make it so. You cannot
have any local community involvement or the community reporting crime if people
avoid going there. The alternative is for the gangs to move in and for gang
culture to prevail. Not only will you lose the park, but you will lose an
entire generation of children to this gang culture too.
David Fergusson
#parksmatter #loveyourpark #loveyourlocalpark #loveparks #parkswatch
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