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

Breckland Council: The magic of the ordinary brings us all together

By Steve James | 14 April 2026

It is the everyday quiet work of districts that builds trust between residents and council and contributes to community cohesion, says Steve James.

LEISURE

Torbay Council and NHS end social care partnership over costs

By Martin Ford | 13 April 2026

A social care agreement between Torbay Council and the NHS has broken down over financial concerns.

LEISURE

When councils get desperate, they start being cultural liquidators

By Ben Page | 13 April 2026

When a council sells off art for ‘small change', it sends a signal to the public that the state is not just broke, but broken, writes Ben Page.

LEISURE

Councils can't deliver better public understanding of AI without resource

By Susan Oman | 10 April 2026

Better AI awareness is needed both inside and beyond the council in its communities, says Susan Oman.

Popular articles by Laura Sharman