Herts car-parks close earlier for ASBO behaviour

25 March 2019, 18:09 | Updated: 25 March 2019, 18:12

The Lairage Multi-Storey Car Park in Hitchin and the Garden Square Multi-Storey Car Park in Letchworth will close early as a result of complaints from local residents and car park users with regards to recent anti-social activity.

From today (Monday 25th March), the earlier closing times will be 7pm for the Lairage car-park and 8pm for the Garden Square Car Park.

North Herts District Council say this will initially be a temporary measure to enable the Council together with the Police, Town Centre Managers and other partners to fully review all options that are available.

Cllr Tony Hunter, NHDC’s Executive Member for Community Engagement said:

"We apologise for any inconvenience the temporary early closures may cause but we have an obligation to ensure that our car parks are safe and not intimidating places. We have received numerous complaints from residents and car park users regarding anti-social and dangerous behaviour.

We are also very concerned about children and young people who use the car parks as places to skateboard and ride their bikes. There have been a number of near misses between children and cars and we would ask parents to ensure their children only use designated sites in both Letchworth and Hitchin for riding skateboards."

Inspector Richard Lilley from the North Herts Safer Neighbourhood Team, said:

"The closure of the car parks is a temporary measure that North Herts District Council has implemented while we work together to assess the extent of the problem and look to find a long term solution.

We will continue to regularly monitor these areas and anyone found committing offences or Anti-social behaviour within North Herts will be dealt with appropriately."