Decision details
Petitions (if any)
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Decision:
Cabinet NOTED the comments made by Caroline Turriff speaking on behalf of local residents living in the proximity of Hazel Road Playground and on Greyhound Road, Kensal Green highlighting concerns relating to anti-social behaviour associated with individuals congregating around three street benches at the bottom of Greyhound Road and opposite the playground. Members were advised that the request to speak was supported by a petition, which currently contained over 150 signatures requesting removal of the benches.
In addressing Cabinet, Caroline Turriff highlighted the nature of the anti-social behaviour being experienced by local residents, which included street drinking, substance and drug abuse, sexual harassment of female residents and harassment of children and parents accessing the park, noise, swearing use of the surrounding bushes as a toilet (which had resulted in the bushes needing to be removed by a local resident) and litter. This had led to residents feeling intimidated, threatened and unsafe with specific concerns raised about the safety of women and children living in the surrounding area. Whilst recognising the importance of street benches, particularly for elderly or less mobile residents, it was pointed out that there were already a number of benches located in the surrounding area with local residents also willing to engage in consultation on the potential relocation of the benches, around which the concerns were focussed, to an alternative location such as the Kensal Green open space triangle in order to make the approach to the playground safer for those using the facility. Given the concerns raised, members were therefore asked to urgently consider removal of the benches from their current location.
In responding, Councillor Promise Knight (as Lead Member for Community Safety & Engagement), began by thanking Caroline Turriff for her presentation. Whilst highlighting the progress made by the Council in tackling anti-social behaviour across the borough it was recognised that this would not prevent the need for further action and to address specific concerns as they were highlighted. In view of the supporting evidence provided and concerns raised in relation to the level of harassment being experienced, impact on residents health and safety and wider concerns relating to safeguarding she advised it had therefore been agreed to remove the benches with support also requested from the relevant agencies in relation to engagement with those individuals causing the nuisance, many of whom were entrenched street drinkers, in relation to the wider issues identified. In addition, she advised that Licensing Officers had also been asked to engage with licensed premises operating in the area in an effort to assist in tackling the wider concerns identified in relation to street drinking.
Caroline Turriff welcomed and thanked the Lead Member for the response and actions outlined, with Councillor M Butt (Leader of the Council) reaffirming the Council’s commitment towards tackling anti-social behaviour and ensuring the necessary measures (working in association with the lead member and ward councillors) were implemented in relation to the specific location highlighted at the meeting.
Publication date: 17/01/2022
Date of decision: 17/01/2022
Decided at meeting: 17/01/2022 - Cabinet