Enjoy yourself but respect our public spaces

With the lifting of lockdown restrictions meaning more and more people venturing outdoors, Lancaster City Council is reminding people that they need to respect parks and open spaces so they can be enjoyed by everyone.

The plea comes after litter and broken glass was left strewn across the beaches in Morecambe during the recent spell of hot weather. Parks have also suffered, with large amounts of litter being left behind.

There have also been reports of anti-social behaviour fuelled by groups drinking alcohol, which in Morecambe, Heysham Village, and Happy Mount Park is restricted by a Public Spaces Protection Order.  The Police and council have powers to seize alcohol from anyone drinking in these areas and anyone persistently causing anti-social behaviour may be issued a fixed penalty ticket or prosecuted.

Councillor Dave Brookes, cabinet member with responsibility for environmental services, said: “The lockdown has been frustrating for everyone, and we know that people are desperate to meet friends outdoors and have a good time at our parks and beaches. But this needs to be done responsibly, or we will have to ask the police to intervene. 

“As lockdown eases, we need to work together to rebuild our local economy. In Morecambe, a significant part of this involves attracting visitors to enjoy our wonderful seaside and spend money while they are here, but like anyone else, visitors don't want to find dirty and unsafe beaches covered in litter and broken glass.

“The city council has worked really hard to help our residents during lockdown, but it has limited resources and can’t do everything. We need people to help us, and help themselves, by not creating unnecessary work for our teams.  The facilities are there to dispose of waste safely, and I would ask people to use them."

 

Last updated: 02 July 2020