New call to close park
A group of Cannock residents are renewing their campaign to get the town's main park locked at night.
Philip Rainsbury, of Park Road, claims Staffordshire Police's anti-social behaviour crackdown – Operation Matrix – had failed to eliminate problems in Cannock Park. It comes after a man was arrested following an assault on a 14-year-old boy there on Saturday.
The teenager suffered a cut to his head and a 22-year-old from Burntwood was released on police bail pending inquiries.
Mr Rainsbury said there had been further problems in the park later that evening, with flower beds trampled and 20 youths playing football on the upper bowling green causing gouges in the surface.
He also accused Cannock Chase Council of ignoring a survey of residents which had shown 77 per cent favoured the park being closed at night. Mr Rainsbury said the group he represents plans to write to the Home Office if action is not taken.
The last Cannock community forum meeting in June was told the council would undertake further consultation. But Mr Rainsbury said this was not needed and the park should be locked to stop the problems including vandalism.
He claimed there had been no trouble until nine years ago when the council stopped locking the park.
Mr Rainsbury said: "The park has been smashed up in the past and we can see it happening again." He said his group had been refused a meeting with the council.
Cannock Chase Council spokesman Jamie Summerfield said: "A survey has recently been undertaken around different methods of making the park safe. There will be a presentation of the results at the Cannock community forum in September.
"The results will form part of the budget setting process for next year where these matters can be weighed against other council priorities."
