Barrier plan for country park delayed

The brakes have been put on plans to block off a car park at a country park overnight to tackle nuisance driving.

Derbyshire County Council said a barrier would be installed at Coppiceside Car Park in Slack Lane, Heanor, from 1 November after complaints about vehicle-related disturbances, illegal off-road driving and vandalism, including damage to parking machines after dark.

But the barriers to the car park, which is used to access Shipley Country Park, will now not come into force until 16 November.

The council said this will allow time to work with partners including Parkrun to organise earlier access on certain days.

The barrier will be locked overnight throughout the year, with different closing times depending on the season.

Between 1 April and 31 October, the car park will close from 20:00 until 09:00. From 1 November to 31 March, it will close from 17:00 until 09:00.

Drivers have been warned to remove their vehicles before the gates close. An out-of-hours service will be available to release vehicles, although a charge will apply.

The council said the measures followed reports of "vehicle-related anti-social behaviour, nuisance driving and illegal off-road vehicle use" in and around the park.

Additional parking will remain available at the nearby Mapperley Car Park.

Visitors have also been asked to continue reporting criminal damage, anti-social behaviour and nuisance vehicles to Derbyshire Police.

Heanor resident Steve Beer, 62, visits the park twice a day with his dog Sulley and said the new arrangements had been met with opposition.

He said: "The gate's not a problem, it's just the times.

"They're not prepared to move on 9 o'clock in the morning, and when I walk my dog, there's loads of dogs there from six onwards.

"It's fine for me but a lot of the older people that's disabled they just can't walk down there."

The county council has been approached for comment.

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