Newark and Sherwood District Council asks for steel gates for Newark’s Buttermarket to try and prevent anti-social behaviour

Anti-social behaviour in Newark Town Hall and Buttermarket have forced the owners to apply for steel gates to keep the perpetrators at bay.

Newark and Sherwood District Council has applied for the gates to seal off the mezzanine gallery floor out-of-hours..

Reports of anti-social behaviour within the historic, listed, Buttermarket include the sprinkler systems being turned on from the mezzanine floor causing a flood. Youths have also trespassed in the Town Hall out-of-hours when the council was in session, ironically to discuss strategies to deal with increased levels of anti-social behaviour.

In its planning application, the district council wrote: “The mock Victorian mezzanine floor and steel stairs were installed within the Newark Buttermarket in the early 1990’s along with a Kone passage lift which is also suitable for wheelchair users.

“The 1990’s steel staircase was removed in the year 2020 and replaced in 2022 with a contemporary steel and glass staircase with a timber handrail.

“However, the installation of the new staircase and the subsequent reopening of the mezzanine floor has unfortunately led to an influx of unwanted anti-social behaviour and vandalism within the Butter Market which has not only caused problems for the building’s owners, but also the tenants trying to profitability trade within the Buttermarket Retail Centre within the current difficult financial environment.

“The proposal is to manufacture and install a bespoke steel security gate which closely matches in materials, style and colours the existing mock/faux Victorian balustrade which was installed in the 1990’s.

“This proposed new security gate would be installed at the top of the steel stairs to restrict unauthorised access to the mezzanine floor outside of normal trading hours.”

When contacted by the Advertiser, Paul Taylor, portfolio holder for public protection and community relations at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “Following issues with littering, intimidation and alcohol in and around the Buttermarket in Newark we have been working to tackle anti-social behaviour and prevent offenders from gaining access to the site.

“I’m pleased to say that as a result of the implementation of various security measures, including CCTV and temporary gating and police intervention, reports of anti-social behaviour at the site have reduced.

“A listed building consent application to add additional security measures to the mezzanine gate will be considered by Newark and Sherwood District Council’s planning committee in due course.

“We are committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and we will continue to work hard to create a safer Newark and Sherwood.”