Improved lighting and more police patrols are planned for an area underneath a tram bridge off Middle Hill in Nottingham where an unauthorised street party took place.
A significant number of people gathered at the Sussex Street skate park, off Cliff Road and next to Nottingham College and the City of Caves, on the evening of September 18.
Videos showed vast numbers of people dancing underneath the tram flyover, as DJs and performers played music from a makeshift stage.
The party went on until around 2 am before officers from Nottinghamshire Police arrived to send people home.
A senior Nottingham councillor has now said improvements to the area are planned to make it safer.
Cllr Corall Jenkins, executive member for neighbourhoods, waste and equalities, said: “The council is aware of some previous issues of anti-social behaviour around the skate park, and carried out a number of visibility patrols in the area to identify and tackle any issues.
“In July the team also carried out a day of action around the Broad Marsh area, including the skate park, as part of the ‘Love Your City Centre’ campaign.
“Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire Police and various partner agencies worked together on the day of action to tackle a range of issues such as ASB and environmental crime – and a litter-pick and a deep clean was also carried out to make the area look and feel safer.
“There are plans in place to improve the lighting underneath the tramline. We are proud to have invested in facilities like the skate park on Cliff Road.
“Not every city centre offers such a space for young people, and it has already become a popular community hub.
“Just this month the skateboarding in the city festival brought people together to celebrate the thriving skate scene and the positive role it plays in the city.”
Residents living in Cliff Road say they have been plagued by anti-social behaviour ever since the skate park opened in December 2022.
Cllr Jenkins said Nottinghamshire Police put up its knife arch – which can detect weapons when a person walks through – on the steps leading up from the skate park to the Nottingham Contemporary art gallery, in September.
“Nottinghamshire Police continue to proactively patrol that area,” she said.
“We understand how unsettling anti-social behaviour can be for residents and take those concerns seriously. It is really important those incidents are reported to the police so they can take action quickly.”
Cllr Andrew Rule, of the Nottingham Independents and Independent Group, said: “Should the issues persist will the executive member give consideration to implementing a public space protection order to restrict access to the skate park during late-night hours and early-hours in the morning, in order to disrupt the behaviour that has been causing issues for the residents of Cliff Road?”
Cllr Jenkins replied: “What I am saying quite clearly in this discussion is if there is anything that is going off, people should be calling the police straight away.”
Cllr Mike Edwards (Lab) said a group was being set up to review how the space is used – as part of wider plans to better showcase the City of Caves entrance under the vision to transform the Greater Broad Marsh area.
