North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) has defended its decision to remove the hedge maze from Cleethorpes’ Pier Gardens on the grounds of anti-social behaviour, despite Humberside Police stating that they only recorded one such incident over the last five years.
The decision to remove the feature this summer proved highly controversial and has been continually challenged by Councillors and residents. North East Lincolnshire Council has insisted the decision was in large part due to anti-social behaviour. They said the situation at the maze meant Council workers were regularly forced to clear “human excrement, litter and drug paraphernalia from areas of Pier Gardens, with specific concentration on the maze.”
The decision also forms part of the overall regeneration of key locations within the resort.
Data shows a total of 41 police incidents occurred in the wider Pier Gardens area between April 2023 and April 2024, including 12 classed as anti-social behaviour, but Humberside Police logged just one incident of anti-social behaviour in the maze itself in the last five years.
The Council said that while they work alongside Humberside Police to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area, it is NELC who lead on investigations and carry out the clear up. They added that the reason Humberside Police do not carry the same records is because “not all anti-social behaviour is classed as a criminal offence”.
A spokesperson for the authority said: “Not all anti-social behaviour is classed as a criminal offence. North East Lincolnshire Council and Humberside Police work together to tackle ASB in our area. The Council lead on investigation and clear up of ASB incidents relating to environment and noise and would only report ASB incidents to the police where they also involve a criminal offence such as arson or criminal damage.
“NELC Street Cleansing and grounds maintenance teams reported, over a number of years, that examples of Anti-Social Behaviour were a daily occurrence during regular patrols in this area of Cleethorpes. In that time, they regularly cleared human excrement, litter and drug paraphernalia from areas of Pier Gardens, with specific concentration on the maze.”
They added: “There were also numerous cases where they had to repair broken walkway boards that were being damaged by vandals inside the maze structure. It was this regularly reported evidence which contributed to the decision taken.
“As reported, this whole area is part of the major regeneration plans for Pier Gardens and plans, which are currently being finalised, will include consideration for reducing Anti-Social Behaviour in this area.”
