Attleborough Town Council - New mayor, skate park lights cut to end antisocial behaviour and frustration at bank closure

The HSBC Bank in Attleborough which is to close. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2015)

At a meeting of Attleborough Town Council last night, councillors voted to cut the Recreation Ground park's lights at 7pm - two hours earlier than the current 9pm - for a one month trial.

It comes after a string of problems in the last few weeks, including damage to the cemetery walls, plant pots moved onto the road in Surrogate Street, tiles taken off the bus shelter and a person being hit in the head with a firework at the Recreation Ground.

Councillors hope the trial will play a part in cutting antisocial behaviour, which they said came from the minority.

Councillor Julie Blyth said: 'It is a minority of young people in the town that are doing this and we need to make sure that we are not punishing the ones who have done nothing wrong.

'We need to think about our young people - we don't have anywhere at night they can go.'

Councillor Tony Perkins said: 'We are all aware it is just a small amount of young people, but for one month it seems to be worth trying.'

Mr Perkins was elected as mayor during the meeting, after the resignation of John Taylor last month.

The former deputy-mayor thanked his councillors him and said: 'I promise I will do my best for you all and for the town.'

Vera Dale, Colin Kilby and Tim Cobb were also co-opted as councillors.

The new vacancy for deputy mayor will be filled at next month's full council meeting.

Councillor Eddie Tyrer provided an update on the emerging Attleborough Neighbourhood Plan, in which he said it was 'growing very, very quickly'.

He estimated it would be put to statutory consultation at the end of November.

Meanwhile, councillors also opposed a decision to close the HSBC branch in Attleborough next year.

The bank, on Queen's Square, will close from Friday, January 22 next year, it was announced at the end of October.

In a letter to customers, branch manager Ed Taylor said: 'At HSBC, we are constantly evolving and developing our services. And with the growth of telephone and online banking in recent years, this has naturally resulted in some branches being used less often.'

All Attleborough accounts will be transferred to the branch on London Street in Norwich.

At last night's meeting, councillors labelled the decision 'questionable' considering the town's inevitable growth.

New mayor Tony Perkins said: 'It is a bit of a shock as the town is growing, I was quite surprised to hear it and I don't think it sends out the right message about Attleborough.'

Councillor John Williams said that the council should fight to get the 'best possible advantage' and that securing it as retail space would be preferable.

The council will write to HSBC over the move.

It comes as Attleborough's Barclays bank scales down its services by one day per week.

What do you think of the council's decisions? Email lauren.cope@archant.co.uk