Thousands of reports of people having sex, taking drugs and fighting are being blamed for a proposal to fence off the Royal Pavilion gardens and to close them at night.
Brighton and Hove City Council said: “In recent years anti-social behaviour, inadequate garden facilities, poor boundary security and a lack of historical information have led to concerns that this beautiful green space could be damaged beyond repair.
“The problems were highlighted last year when the garden was placed on Historic England’s ‘at risk’ register.
“In 2017 security staff recorded more than 20,000 incidents of anti-social or criminal behaviour in the garden overnight.
“As a result, residents and visitors are being asked to comment on a proposal to erect railings around the garden so that it can be closed at night.
“The garden was originally enclosed by a high flint wall with railings on top and closed at ‘sunset’.
“More than five million people visit the garden each year, from tourists from all over the world to North Laine residents who consider the space as their ’back garden’.
“Brighton and Hove City Council is working on a plan to improve and enhance the popular garden and has launched a public consultation to find out what local people think.
“The council is committed that the garden will remain free and accessible to all as one of the most important green spaces in the city.
“This survey will support its bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund as part of phase 2 of the Royal Pavilion Estate project.
“Over the next seven weeks residents and visitors will have the opportunity to comment on all aspects of the garden from planting, seating and walkways to attractions and events.
“Views are also being sought on how to tackle anti-social behaviour and whether a boundary should be created so that the garden can be secured at night.
“The results will also feed into the final draft of a conservation and management plan. Historic England recommended the council draw up the plan for the grade II listed garden.
“The Royal Pavilion Garden is one of the few remaining regency gardens in the country and is considered one of the nation’s most significant outside spaces.
“It is also the open space that links together the buildings making up the Royal Pavilion Estate from the Royal Pavilion and Brighton Museum to the Dome and Corn Exchange.”
Councillor Alan Robins, who chairs the council’s Tourism, Development and Culture Committee, said: “The Royal Pavilion Garden is well loved by those who work there and care for it, those who live or work near it and by residents and visitors.
“And it is our responsibility to make sure we look after and plan for this unique free open space so it can be enjoyed by future generations.
“That’s why we are encouraging everyone to take part in the survey and share their views.
“By working together in this way, we can make sure that money and time are invested where they are most needed and that our unique historic garden remains a wonderful, safe and relaxing space for everyone.”
The survey is open until Friday 29 June. To take part online, click here. Or for a paper copy call 03000 290902.
The council added: “Improving and protecting the Royal Pavilion Garden is a key part of the Royal Pavilion Estate project where the council and Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival are working together to reunify the estate and conserve its heritage.
“Phase 1 is under way. The Royal Pavilion Garden is part of phase 2.
For more information about the Royal Pavilion Estate project, click here.
Seems like an ideal way to introduce a fee paying system for the whole’Estate’.
20,000 incidents in 2017? That’s about 54 per night. I’m struggling to believe that, and if anyone reading this would like to walk through the Pavilion Gardens on any evening – as I frequently do – you too will struggle to see what the problem is. I’m guessing they are counting bits of dropped litter to get to 20,000 ‘incidents’. What the issue here is really about is funding. The plan is to close off the whole are as a heritage site and eventually that will mean they can charge to get in, and they can also host events which will also be subject to admission charge. We need to remember that this is the one sheltered public space in the city centre and, for sure, younger people may gather there in the evenings. Do we really want the city centre to be a place that is shut off at night and where you have to go into restaurants or pubs to be sociable? This is privatisation of a public space via the back door.
Please publish the reports of these alleged incidents. 20 000 in 2017. That would be one recorded every 15 minuets if the “night” is the time suggested (12 hours)
I have been in that part of the city regularly after dark and have never in 10 years even seen an official in the area in the time you would want the park closed ?
So what’s the real reason you want to lock away the garden ?
Please publish the log of these alleged offenses.
20 000 in 2017. Ridiculous. If these occurred only in the time you want to lock the garden to keep it safe, let’s assume 12 hours overnight. Then that would be one recorded every 15 minuets every day of the year.
I have spent many hours sitting on the lawns in that garden chilling after dark over the last 10 years and have never even seen an “official” recording anything.
The occasional drunken brawl and a few policemen/women does happen I’m sure, but that’s life in clubland. Bars booze and boys end up with a fight sometimes but what you going to do fence every club pub and late night cafe in Brighton.
Get real and tell us why you really want to exclude the people of the city from the garden ?
This is why we can’t have nice things.
privatisation by the back, front and sideways:
I fear enclosure of the Royal Pavilion Gardens because we live in ugly random terrorist times and escape from an enclosed garden if anything kicked off would be impossible.
But paid entry would help with maintenance costs (including pickup of people’s dumped food & drink oackaging)