Frustrated residents have launched a petition in a bid to get lighting installed at a North Liverpool park blighted with anti-social behaviour.
More than 100 people have added their name to the document to try and convince Liverpool Council to put lighting in place at Everton Park. The ECHO has reported previously about the “endemic” issues blighting the popular green space.
At the end of April, a burned out motorbike and graffiti were left at the Netherfield Road area of the park after fly-tipping and damage to fences and signage was reported in February. Friends of Everton Park (FoEP) reached out to Merseyside Police and Liverpool Council in a bid to bring the vandalism to an end.
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Kevin Robinson-Hale, who launched the petition, said it was a matter of time before someone was “injured or worse” if no lighting was installed. Emails seen by the ECHO show Liverpool Council and Mr Robinson-Hale had been in discussion about lights since last year but no progress was able to be made to date.
He said: “We are having a high level of anti-social behaviour in the park by mine with people on scrambler bikes and quads in the park, riding on the paths. The issue is at night the top park is pitch black.
“I reported this in April 2021 and was told that someone had removed the underground electric box and the council officer didn't know when. Months on and its only a matter of time before someone is injured or worse.
“Residents are telling me they won't walk through at night as they do not feel safe. It is unsafe and nothing will change until it is too late.”
The petition launched by Mr Robinson-Hale, who has stood as a Green Party candidate in the ward, said residents “want action.” It said: “It feels as if it is only a matter of time before something happens that could have been avoided.
“The park as a whole has inadequate lighting and yet nothing is being done.” In this year alone, the park has been targeted by vandals leaving graffiti on the site, dumping burned out vehicles and fly-tipping.
The local authority spends £9.5m a year cleaning up litter, has invested more than £8m in its alleyways programme to create safe and cleaner neighbourhoods, and is rolling out improved litter bins in the city’s major parks. The ECHO approached Liverpool Council for comment on the lights.
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