Ashby de la Zouch Town Council is to take a number of steps to try to stamp out anti-social behaviour in the Hood Park area of the town.

At the council's Parks & Cemetery committee meeting last month, the town clerk reported back to councillors on the issue.

Cllr Dr. Barbara Kneale expressed some surprise and disappointment that the IMPACT referral - a team focused on street-based work in anti-social behaviour hot spots - from August 2020, had been rejected.

The Town Clerk suggested that local residents should be encouraged to call 101 to report incidences of anti-social behaviour on the park to ensure that they are formally recorded by the police - and will help build a case for a future referral.

Cllr David Bigby suggested that it may be possible to harness the work of volunteers through a similar group to that which has been established for the Bath Grounds.

The commitete resolved to accept the recommendations in the written report from the Town Clerk dated August 25, with respect to attempting to address the problem of anti-social behaviour on Hood Park as follows:

• To work with the local police, the operators of Ashby Leisure Centre and Lido, the County Council and the District Council in order to take a multi-agency approach to the problem of anti-social behaviour on Hood Park;

• To press North West Leicestershire District Council to follow through on its promise for an education campaign on littering (and anti-social behaviour more generally) now that the schools are back;

• To work with NWLDC and the police to improve signage in and around the park;

• To arrange appropriate screening on the Ash Tree Road side of the Gilwiskaw Brook;

• To request a further visit of the District Council's CCTV van;

• To press for a further IMPACT referral from the Leicestershire County Council's Youth & Justice team.