Alexandra Park VAWG funding

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

This funding has enabled safety improvements to be made in Alexandra Park to help address some of the concerns raised through a local petition by two women, Claire Noble and Kay Early. Their involvement in conversations about safety and security has been vital in sharing the wider town's concerns and led to the submission of the funding application.

These improvements include the installation of fences and gates in the lower park to prevent hidden areas, low-level lighting to increase visibility in particularly dark spots and the removal of dense vegetation and planting of low-ground cover plants to create open paths. New notice boards have also been installed throughout the park. These all include a unique What 3 Words location, a valuable tool that enables exact locations to be shared easily in emergencies.

A 17 camera CCTV system has been installed, this will record key locations, including the entrances and exits in the lower park and the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA). The cameras will provide high-quality day and night images and aim to deter and assist in the detection of crime and anti-social behaviour. While the cameras will not be monitored on a day-to-day basis, they will provide vital footage that can be retrieved to support investigations when necessary.

Other improvements have been made to bus stops next to the park, with East Sussex Highways due to install real-time passenger information boards in the next few weeks. These will display precise bus arrival times and information on how to access support if someone is experiencing domestic abuse.

All of the improvements have been done with the aim of enhancing the park in addition to making it a safer space, with care taken by our highly knowledgeable parks team to ensure no rare or endangered plants were damaged in the process.