Petition for Urgent Investment in West Park, Girlington

We, the undersigned residents of Toller Ward, call for urgent, targeted investment in West Park, Girlington, a vital public green space that has suffered long-term neglect and now requires immediate action to ensure it is safe, accessible, and fit for year-round community use.

West Park is the heart of Girlington. It should be a place for families, older residents, disabled people, and young people to exercise, socialise, and enjoy nature. Instead, locked facilities, poor lighting, lack of boundaries, and limited maintenance have allowed parts of the park to become underused and unsafe, contributing to antisocial behaviour, fly-tipping, fires, and illegal motorbike use.

Historic boundary fencing was removed during the Second World War and never replaced. The absence of clear boundaries has directly contributed to rubbish dumping, deliberate fires (particularly around Bonfire Night), and repeated emergency service call-outs. Reinstating appropriate fencing would protect the park and deliver long-term cost savings to fire, police, and council services.

Poor lighting and drainage mean large areas of the park are unusable in winter, limiting physical activity and excluding disabled residents and those with mobility issues. This undermines public health objectives and increases pressure on NHS services.

We therefore call on the Council to commit to:

1. Dedicated capital investment in West Park

Focused on safety, accessibility, and inclusion, with disability access built into all improvements.

2. Improved lighting, CCTV, and basic security infrastructure

To enable safe evening and winter use and reduce antisocial behaviour.

3. Reopening and repurposing locked facilities

Including the bowling green, in partnership with Friends of West Park, to support supervised community and youth activity.

4. Boundary protection and fly-tipping prevention

Through appropriate fencing to reduce dumping, fires, and emergency service costs.

5. Facilities that promote year-round health and activity

Including an outdoor gym and a covered 5-a-side pitch to support physical activity for all ages and abilities.

Investment in West Park is preventative spending. It will reduce long-term costs linked to policing, fire response, poor health outcomes, and social isolation, while delivering measurable benefits in public safety, wellbeing, and community cohesion.

We urge Bradford Council to prioritise West Park and work with local residents to secure its future.

Mohammed Hamza Rehman