Forum to put park future in spotlight

A public meeting has been organised to discuss the future of a Staffordshire park.

Council bosses revealed the meeting had been arranged to find out what the public wanted to see in Hednesford Park. Hednesford Community Forum was told by Tom Walsh, the council's parks and open spaces manager, that the meeting had been organised next month at the Cannock Chase Museum, on Valley Road.

Mr Walsh said the council had sent out letters on Wednesday to people known to be interested in the park inviting them to the meeting but he also said any members of the public were welcome.

Among the topics which will be discussed at the public meeting, which will take place on February 4, will be whether or not to close the park at night after Cannock police Inspector Mat Derrick said it would help stop anti-social behaviour.

Mr Walsh said: "It is time Hednesford Park had a development plan to set out what is required over the next few years. We want people to come along and say what they think."

A meeting is planned next week between the police and Cannock Chase Council to discuss closing Cannock park at night.

Mr Walsh said: "We believe the parks used to be closed up to about 10 years ago when there were two fires in Hednesford park when the pavilion was burned down and the fire service could not get into the park. Since then they have been open at night on the fire service's advice."

Inspector Mat Derrick, from Cannock Police has called for both parks to be closed after reports of groups teenagers using Cannock park for drinking and anti-social behaviour.

The public meeting at Cannock Chase Museum, Valley Road, will begin at 7pm.