by Katie Alston

kalston@thekmgroup.co.uk

Canterbury City Council has revealed cost-cutting plans to stop locking gates to parks and gardens overnight.

Some residents fear leaving them open after dusk will encourage rough sleepers, drunks, litter and anti-social behaviour, and rather than save cash it will end up costing more in police call-outs and clean-up bills.

Grandfather Michael Pocock has been the Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator for the Whitehall area of St Dunstan’s for six years.

The 63-year-old teacher said: “Open spaces will become a haven for down-and-outs and a free for all. It is a stealth cut that no one was consulted about. A rethink is needed.”

Suggestions of asking volunteers to become key holders has also been met with anger.

Hilary McKernan has been chairman of St Peter’s Residents’ Association since April 2010.

She said: “The thought of getting members of the public to step in is ridiculous. What powers would they have to get people to leave as they locked the gates?

“Police tell people not to approach those that have been drinking or to put themselves in any danger, and the kind of undesirables that will be hanging out in the gardens at night are certainly not the types you would want to anger.”

Canterbury city council’s head of environmental services Larissa Laing said: “The proposal to cease locking the gates to parks and cemeteries formed part of the council’s budget consultation last autumn.

“The council agreed the proposals at its meeting in February and we are still planning to implement them.

“It represents a saving for the council tax-payer of £16,800 next year and £32,900 in 2012-13.

“We proposed at the time that we would work with community groups to find volunteers to open and close the gates. We are pleased with the number of people who have come forward to be involved and are arranging meetings.

“Monitoring of public areas will be ongoing, and the council’s Community Safety Unit will respond to reported anti-social behaviour.

“The proposals were in the council’s budget consultation, and we welcomed contributions from all interested parties, including the police.

The full list of park and gardens included in the changes:

1. Westgate Gardens
2. Guildhall
3. Butterfly Garden in Pound Lane
4. Norman Castle
5. Greyfriars Gardens
6. Three Cities Gardens
7. Solly’s Orchard
8. Wincheap play area
9. Martyrs Field Gardens
10. St Margaret’s Church Yard
11. Canterbury Cemetery
12. Herne Bay Cemetery
13. War Memorial Park

Read more reaction in this week's Kentish Gazette.

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