Fears of vandalism over visitor centre in £2m makeover park

Leeds City Council has submitted plans for a replacement visitor centre and cafe, bandstand and other improvements at Middleton Park, a 630-acre open space in a built-up area of south Leeds.

A report by the council’s chief planning officer, Phil Crabtree, is recommending that the plans be approved.

But the report raises concerns about the security of the proposed visitor centre, which will also be a base for the estate officer and parks and countryside officers.

The council’s architectural liaison officer, Lester Hill, has raised concerns about the future security of the visitor centre.

The proposed visitor centre is “very remote and isolated with no formal or natural surveillance outside of the centre’s opening hours and outside daylight hours,” the report notes.

Concerns have also been raised about the bandstand as the aluminium proposed for the roof is valuable and could be a target for thieves. Glazing in the visitor centre could also be a target.

Fears have been raised about whether both buildings could withstand a determined attack by thieves or vandals.

Mr Hill has suggested that the creation of a “robust perimeter” with a network of closed circuit television cameras and a public address system.

“Sufficient regard has not been considered in respect of historic crime levels in the location and security,” the officer said.

In response, Mr Crabtree has said that further alterations are proposed to make the buildings more secure.

The control arms of the moveable shutters will be moved to beneath the shutters to ensure they are protected from vandalism when the shutters are closed.

The glass throughout the visitor centre will be safety glass and the rear doors will be steel with timber cladding.

CCTV cameras will be installed within the visitor centre and the building will not be used for the storage of anything of great value, such as ride-on lawn mowers and computers,

Police officers have suggested fencing around the visitor centre to create a secure boundary as well as installing external CCTV, but the Heritage Lottery Fund objected to this and the council had to comply with these wishes in order to secure funding.

The council says that the grant award, or part of it, could be places at risk if “heavy physical security were re-introduced”.

“Heritage Lottery Fund referred the applicant (the council) to other schemes they have funded in challenging environments, such as Birkenhead Park, where the level of vandalism has been dramatically reduced through a community engagement approach.

“The HLF monitor has advised that Birkenhead Park was completed four years ago and its new visitor centre (complete with white wash walls and significant areas of glass) has yet to be targeted by vandals.”

The aim in Middleton will be to promote ownership of the facilities among local people in the hope of curbing vandalism.

The planning report concluded: “This application proposes a community facility within the park to replace a smaller existing visitor centre.

“It is considered that the principle of the development is acceptable as it is for recreational purposes and therefore does not conflict with the aims of green belt policy.

“On balance the design and siting of the proposed visitor centre and bandstand are considered acceptable subject to detailed conditions...”

The report added: “The works to the entrances of the park are also considered acceptable and the application is recommended for approval.”

The plans panel will discuss the planning application on Thursday next week at Leeds Civic Hall.