2020

Council to close car parks at play areas and open spaces

Date Posted: 11:25 AM on Fri, 27 March 2020

Gedling Borough Council is to close several of its car parks from today to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in accordance with government and police guidelines on social distancing and how people should be exercising.

The car park closures will include Gedling Country Park, Arnot Hill Park and Bestwood Country Park, where the children’s play areas have already been closed in an attempt to reduce social contact. The government’s advice to stay at home and only go out to exercise has meant that the council has had to review its parks and open spaces services on a daily basis to decide if it is appropriate to continue.

The closures will apply to all visitors with the exception of disabled residents who may need to access the parks for health reasons. These visitors must display blue disabled badges when parking and must follow social distancing measures, as well as parking with at least one space between cars.

Any vehicles not displaying blue badge permits will face enforcement action and the new measures will be reviewed if Government guidance changes on the use of parks. Cars with blue badges must be parked at least one space apart from each other to comply with social distancing rules.

Car parks near town centres and shops will remain open as residents will need access to supplies and will need cars to shop.

Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke said:

“Taking action to prevent the spread of this terrible virus is a top priority, therefore we are having to continue to take difficult decisions to help keep everyone as safe as possible. Unfortunately, we have been left with no choice but to close car parks as our play areas, parks and open spaces in order to reduce the high numbers of people congregating at our parks and open spaces. We know how hard this is for everyone and we know that you are being told to exercise but the Police advice is is that you shouldn’t be driving to a location away from your home to carry this out.”

The parks affected are:

Arnot Hill Park,

Breckhill Road, Burton Road

Carlton Hill Recreation Ground

Church Lane Recreation Ground

Colwick Rectory

Conway Road Recreation Ground

Killisick Recreation Ground

Lambley Lane recreation Ground

Oakdale Road recreation Ground

Thackeray’s Lane Recreation Ground

Gedling Country Park

Bestwood Country Park