Alexandra Park VAWG funding

Our borough's award-winning parks provide excellent spaces to exercise and socialise, which have proven important for residents' mental and physical health throughout the pandemic. As a council we are committed to making sure our parks remain enjoyable spaces for all.

Following a successful bid with the Office of the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (OSPCC) to the Home Office, we have received £208,000 in funding through the Safer Streets project to help tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG).

We have been working with two local women Claire Noble and Kay Early who carried out a petition for safety improvements in Alexandra Park. Their continued involvement in conversations about safety and security has been vital in sharing the wider town's concerns, leading to the submission of the funding application. This money will enable works to be carried out to help address some of these concerns and improve park users' feelings of comfort and security.

The planned improvements include:

• Cutting back vegetation and planting low ground cover plants to create open paths
• Installing more lighting to improve visibility
• Updating notice boards and map signage with help information
• Fencing the lower substation and other locations to limit hidden spaces
• Installing CCTV to provide coverage in the park to reassure park users and reduce fear of crime
• Improving some public transport points by providing live bus times and new signage with help information.

Some improvement works have already started with more due to be completed in the coming months.