Security patrols to continue

A private security firm will continue to patrol a playing field at weekends to stop anti-social behaviour.

Balderton Parish Council employed Security 2, of Newark, to patrol Balderton Playing Field over the summer because of problems with youths gathering there, drinking and leaving litter.

The chairman, Mrs Angela Jarvis, said the decision had been made because they felt they were not getting the back-up from the police that they needed.

The clerk, Mrs Cheryl Davison-Lyth, told the amenities committee that the patrols were successful.

She said the three-month contract was due to finish at the end of September and asked members if they wanted to continue it.

She said the council paid the firm £75 to patrol the playing field twice at the weekends so, by the time the contract ended, the total bill would be almost £1,000.

It was agreed to continue with the patrols but scale them down as the evenings drew in.

Mr Walter Hurst suggested they had a meeting with Balderton’s beat manager at which they could explain how effective having a private security firm on the playing field had been.

Mr Keith Walker said they should ask what the policeman and two police support community officers assigned to the village were doing on nights when they were not available in Balderton.

The council’s head groundsman, Mr Jim Brown, said he had noticed a difference in the amount of cans and bottles they had to clear up.

He said some young people who had stayed away from the playing field because of the anti-social behaviour were now using it.

The meeting was also told that work is set to start on improvements to Balderton Lake.

The work, which will involve reinforcing the banks, will be paid for with £30,000 from Nottinghamshire County Council’s Local Improvement Scheme Initative.

Mr Brown said they would be looking to provide an area to enable the disabled to fish at the lake.

He suggested the council look at the lake improvements as an on-going project.

He said the area was coming to the stage where work would be needed and asked if the idea could be considered when the council looked at its budget for next year.

Mrs Lydia Hurst asked if the council could look into providing a sand play area when considering the budget.