Parks to stay open at night in cost-cutting trial

A council is to leave parks open at night this summer in a cost-cutting trial - despite fears crime could rise.

Security of Runnymede parks cost the authority £68,823 in 2023/2024 and £65,166 the year after, a council report says.

Since November 2025, Heathervale recreation ground, The Orchard and Abbeyfields, Truss's Island and Ottershaw Memorial, have been left unlocked.

As well as extending the trial Runnymede council plans to now include Victory Park, in Addlestone, as well as Chertsey recreation ground.

The authority wants to know whether problems stay as low in summer as during quieter months.

Some of the saved money will be spent on installing CCTV at Chertsey recreation ground and Abbeyfields.

At a June services meeting council officers said parks left open since 25 November had not seen a "measurable" increase in antisocial behaviour.

They said: "Winter changes have been broadly successful and provide a sound basis for a more flexible and evidence led approach."

A review will be carried out in November.

Councillor Pippa Tucker-Brown said she was encouraged by the officers' report but added: "I know there are neighbours around Victory Park that are quite nervous about the change."

And councillor Carl Mann said: "We are going along on evidence based on a winter season and not on a summer season - when you know summer brings a lot issues."

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