Leeds park to get new restrictions to curb anti-social behaviour - including road closure

Traffic restrictions are set to be trialled as the council tackles nuisance driving through the grounds of a historic stately home in Leeds.

A private road through Temple Newsam Park would be closed to traffic under plans by Leeds City Council.

Two entry points to the estate will also be gated off between 10pm and 6am.

The measures were designed to combat illegal encampments, car meet-ups and commuter “rat-running”.

A council report said nuisance behaviour at Temple Newsam was causing an “unsustainable” financial burden.

It said: “There will be an immediate reduction in damage to the Grade I-listed landscape.

“Resources currently diverted to managing unauthorised encampments and night-time anti-social behaviour can be reinvested into park maintenance and community programmes.”

The measures would see a 24-hour closure of part of Elm Tree Walk to all vehicles.

Overnight gates will also prevent drivers from entering the park from Colton Road and Temple Gate.

The restrictions will be tested out after an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) was approved.

The report said: “The TRO provides the police with clearer enforcement powers to disperse gatherings more effectively than current civil trespass laws.”

The measures are set to be introduced this summer and a decision would be made on whether to make them permanent in a year’s time.

The report said: “Continued misuse of the estate presents a high risk of vehicle-pedestrian collisions and irreversible damage to heritage fabric.”

An online consultation found that 72 per cent of respondents supported the proposed measures.

The first six months after the TRO is implemented would be used as a statutory consultation period, the report said.

In March, the council said fencing, height barriers and chicanes would be installed to deter nuisance bikers.

Temple Newsam is one of the city’s most popular parks, with an estimated 2.4m visits each year.