Nottingham City Council have closed the Arboretum Park and Lenton Recreation Ground today after “appalling” scenes earlier in the week.
It comes after large amounts of litter was left scattered across both parks after crowds gathered to drink alcohol in the hot weather on the first day of relaxed coronavirus restrictions.
Council Leader David Mellen admitted he “regrets” having to take action but was forced to due to the “appalling scenes” earlier in the week.
He said: “Sadly, the actions of a thoughtless minority has spoilt that. It is unacceptable and unsustainable for our already thinly-stretched crews to have to be redeployed from work in communities across our city to clear up the mess left behind at our parks.
“We have added extra bins – and we implore people to take their rubbish away with them if these become full and dispose of it reasonably.”
The relaxed coronavirus restrictions now allow groups to meet in outdoor spaces, such as private gardens or public parks, in groups of six people or more if from two households.
Council Leader David Mellen added: “None of this would be necessary if people took their own personal responsibility seriously, especially at a time when we need to be much more cautious in the way we behave and follow the gradual lifting of restrictions, if we are to hope to put this pandemic behind us.”
Earlier in the week videos and photographs went viral on social media as large groups were seen occupying the open spaces that exist within the heavily student-populated areas of the city.
Footage showed young people climbing trees, littering and some even fighting, with one resident describing it as sounding like a “football match”.
Nottingham Trent University have not responded to our request for a comment.
By Matt Lee
Lead Image: Olimpia Zagnat / Twitter (Video)