Bidford park to be closed to cars at 8pm to cut noise and anti-social behaviour
BIDFORD’S Big Meadow will be locked up and closed to vehicles after 8pm each night to tackle reports of loud music and anti-social behaviour.
The decision by Bidford Parish Council will mean that any drivers who are trapped in the site after 8pm will have to pay a £60 release fee.
The measure, which starts on 1st August, has been introduced following claims that overcrowding and anti-social behaviour have turned the meadow into a ‘no-go area’ on weekends.
The parish council had originally planned to tackle the problems by installing £11,000 of fencing, but the idea caused anger among some villagers who demanded a public meeting before any changes were made to the park.
The fencing plan is now unlikely to go ahead, the Herald was told, although the council said it will still consider long-term alternatives for the site.
In the meantime, the access gates to the meadow will be locked with the policy coming into force in time for the summer holidays when Big Meadow attracts lots of visitors.
Parish clerk Elisabeth Uggerløse said: “What we’re doing – which is exactly the same as is already in effect in Evesham – is that vehicles must leave the area by 8pm.
“The reason behind it is that people were talking about loud music and anti-social behaviour in the evening and so by looking at what other parks do, we will close at eight o’clock and we’ll see what effect that has.”
Exceptions will be made for vehicles belonging to keyholders, such as fishermen who pay for access to the site.
Mrs Uggerløse added that the change was more of an admin decision and was announced last week to give people time to adapt.
“We have advised people this is effective from 1st of August as we wanted to catch the holiday period,” she said. “It’s something that we can do this year which addresses concerns expressed by some of the people.”
As reported by the Herald previously, Big Meadow has seen anti-social behaviour that has included disposal barbecues and food waste being thrown into the River Avon, people defecating in the open, loud music and noise, and anti-social driving.
Two meetings have been held to discuss the issue with some suggesting cheap car parking – the fee had been £3 a day – had contributed to the overcrowding.
The council has previously agreed other measures for Big Meadow including increasing parking charges to £6 per day, installing portable toilets during the summer and exploring if a larger toilet block could be built.
Mrs Uggerløse said there was no plan for a public meeting about Big Meadow but stressed there was always a time for public participation at the start of full council meetings. The next meeting is 31st July.
The parish council leases the 26-acre park from the charity of Alice Dudley, the Duchess of Dudley and is responsible for its maintenance.