Title

LEISURE

Councils across the UK close parks to limit spread of coronavirus

Councils have been forced to close parks and other public spaces in a bid to protect people from coronavirus.

Councils have been forced to close parks and other public spaces in a bid to protect people from coronavirus.

Following concerns that people are failing to practise social distancing in open spaces, councils across the UK have made the decision to close their parks.

Essex, Carmarthenshire and Leicestershire CCs, and Hammersmith & Fulham LBC are among those that have taken this decision.

Leicestershire leader Nick Rushton said: 'I had wanted to support the health and wellbeing of our residents during these unprecedented times, but people's safety is my priority.

'Put simply, if there are too many people in the parks, it's impossible to keep to the Government's social distancing advice.'

Hammersmith & Fulham leader, Cllr Stephen Cowan, added: 'Our parks have been full of people this weekend with a significant proportion ignoring government guidelines on social distancing.

'This raises the serious likelihood of cross-infection.

'By closing our parks we are putting the safety of all our residents first.'

Other councils across the UK said they were monitoring the situation and would take action if necessary.

LEISURE

Sunderland leads UK Smart City revolution and tech growth

By Patrick Melia | 31 October 2025

Embedding connectivity infrastructure into the very fabric of urban life can ignite the conditions for rapid and transformative economic growth. For smart ci...

LEISURE

Can council working relationships survive an extreme political shift?

By Blair McPherson | 30 October 2025

Blair McPherson looks at what happens to relationships between officers and members when an extreme party gains power.

LEISURE

Adding up the price of local government interventions

By Dan Peters | 30 October 2025

As more councils in intervention increases, the price tag for commissioners is skyrocketing. Dan Peters crunches the numbers and commissioner Gavin Jones exp...

LEISURE

Reimagining the local state: Power, trust and collaboration in the Community Paradigm

By Jessica Studdert | 30 October 2025

As trust in institutions declines, the local state has a unique opportunity to renew its relationship with communities, writes Jessica Studdert.

Popular articles by Laura Sharman