Row erupts over opening gardens (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Row erupts over opening gardens

A ROW has erupted between Malmesbury police and the town council, which wants to open the Jubilee Gardens and reintroduce benches at the Cloister Gardens.

The three benches at the Cloister Gardens and the bench at the top of the abbey steps were removed after being destroyed by vandals last summer.

The police believe antisocial behaviour and vandalism in the area has dropped drastically as a result.

But the town council now wants to replace the benches and open the Jubilee Gardens to the public until dusk.

Malmesbury Mayor Charles Vernon said permanently removing the benches and closing the Jubilee Gardens meant visitors and residents were paying for the misbehaviour of a few.

He said: "The cloister gardens is an area used by tourists and members of the public. There is a problem that needs to be managed, but why should the rest of the community suffer because of a small minority."

The nearby Jubilee Garden, next to the Old Bell Hotel, has four benches, which have been cemented to the ground because of previous problems with vandalism. The gardens are owned by the hotel and managed by the Civic Trust.

The Cloister Gardens, leased to the council by Abbey House Gardens, has been a notorious boozing spot for young people.

The pergola in the Cloister Gardens was destroyed in June last year when a stone pillar was pushed over and five wooden trellises ripped out, costing the council £1,000 to repair.

As summer approaches and the nights get longer Malmesbury police sergeant Gavin Williams is worried returning the benches and opening the Jubilee Garden will just encourage youths to gather there again.

He said: "The situation at the Cloister Gardens has improved since the benches were removed. We are keen to make sure the benches are not returned and the gardens remain shut."

But Coun Vernon said he was not completely sure the closure of the Jubilee Gardens had made a difference.

He said: "I was walking past the gardens on Thursday night and there was a group of youths in there. They get in over the wall and there is damage to that, which is not good."

Ian Pollard, owner of Abbey House Gardens, said he backed the police and was in favour of permanently removing the benches from Cloister Gardens.

He said: "We are aware there are less problems at the Cloister Gardens by virtue of the fact the benches are not there. We agree with the police, we do not want to see them back."

Coun Vernon said the council was going to reintroduce the benches in March but has delayed that decision because of the police protests.

The issue will be discussed at a meeting of the town council's recreation and youth committee next Thursday at 7pm at the town hall.

l Problems with youths in the villages of Minety, Oaksey and Brinkworth are to be tackled by youth workers from the Cartmell Youth Centre in Malmesbury after the scheme was awarded £1,300 by North Wiltshire District Council.

The money will be used by the centre to expand its street worker scheme.

Parish councillor Derek Pitt said: "I think it is a good thing. I just hope the young do participate with the scheme. It also a positive opportunity to cooperate across the villages."

Malmesbury Area Youth Support, which offers advice and support to teenagers, also received a £500 from the district council for improvements to its drop in centre.