New gates and fencing are to be installed at a Lisburn park amid concerns about escalating anti-social behaviour.
The measures are to employed at Robinson Park, off the Lambeg Road, however one local councillor says the move may just see trouble move elsewhere.
A Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council spokesperson said: “The council is aware of recent anti-social behaviour at Robinson Park and continues to work closely with local residents and statutory partners.
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“As a direct measure of discussions, the council has agreed to install gates and fencing at Robinson Park that can be opened and closed as needed.”
The park is named after Tom Robinson who brought the Coca Cola brand to Lambeg in 1939, but in recent years has reportedly become the scene of night time drinking and unruly activities.
A statue erected in honour of Tom’s son Terence, a driving force behind Coca-Cola’s presence in the area, was vandalised in 2019.
LCCC’s head of environmental health, Richard Harvey informed the council on Wednesday that the council currently has no gated alleyways in the district to combat anti-social behaviour in local neighbourhoods.
The PSNI confirmed they have been dealing with increased levels of anti-social activity.
They said: “Over the last few weeks we have dealt with young persons travelling or being dropped off here from as far away as Belfast and dealt with reports of fights, under-age drinking.
“We have been dealing with increased numbers of young persons at Lambeg Road, Lisburn in the area of the Tom Robinson Memorial Park.”
But North Lisburn councillor Jonathan Craig (DUP) has warned that putting up gates at the park may only displace the problem making it “someone else’s problem”.
He said: “We have seen the police take action in recent weeks on the anti-social behaviour and illegal activities of under-age children in the area, though there is very little that can be done to minors for such things.
“It seems that these children come up on trains and gain access to the park through the back area that was once part of the Coca Cola bottling factory.
“Unfortunately, by putting up fencing we might just be making the issue someone else’s problem as they will move on to somewhere else.
“There needs to be more action that can be taken against the parents, who as far as I can see don’t seem to be taking any responsibility for where their children are going at night.
“It is systemic of the legal system that there is very little legally you can do. It is a sad reflection on society.”
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