The gate at the end of the road

To whom it may concern,
After receiving your letter dated 22nd May I find it necessary to express to you my deepest concern with the actions that have been decided upon (RE: The closure of the Park Road/Lenton Road footpath). Firstly I would like to make it known that I have opposed this measure from the very start and made it clear in conversation with a policeman a few months ago who was interviewing those who use the gate.
Access to the Park, though I understand can be limited under the 1990 Act, has become an accepted and appreciated through route from Lenton to the City Centre. I use the route often, at all times of day and night, and never cause disturbance to the local residence. Though I understand that there have been a number of incidents that have caused concern to the residents on The Park I also question whether or not you have had any consideration for those who live outside The Park whose houses will now be passed by the very same people you are legislating against. Rather than offering any solution to the problem at hand you have simply fobbed it off to those who don’t have the privilege of gates at the end of their road keeping out citizens of our city who they see as a nuisance. Has any consideration to women walking home alone, who now have to take a longer route, been taken into account? I have a number of female friends that use the park as a quick route home from Town on a night out.
It strikes me that the plans have been devised by those who have the money and power to exclude Nottingham Citizens from their own city. The people who I would imagine will be affected by this will be a) Students b) Lower Income Families and c) other young people. It should be considered that there are root causes behind antisocial behavior that need to be addressed and short-term, illiberal and exclusionary tactics are not likely to be successful.
I hope that you reconsider the proposal to lock the gate

Yours faithfully


Matthew Butcher