A SERIES of changes will be made to Kelvingrove Park this summer in a bid to crackdown on boozy revellers taking to the West End beauty spot. 

Glasgow City Council has teamed up with Police Scotland to enforce the changes, which aim to curb levels of anti-social behaviour seen at the park in recent weeks. 

To help manage the open space more effectively on days when large numbers are anticipated, officers will be stationed at park entrances with the primary aim of preventing alcohol from being brought into public space. 

Glasgow Times:

Additionally, gates will be closed on a temporary basis on specific days where visitors will be channelled towards six gates at the north, south, east and west of the park. At these points, checks will be conducted by community enforcement officers and police.

This means that anybody who attempts to enter the park with alcohol will be either be asked to dispose of it or refused entry. 

The local authority has announced that two additional CCTV cameras will also be installed within the park to ensure that it remains a safe space. 

READ MORE: Kelvingrove Park: St Patrick's Day revellers moved on by police as large crowds gather in Glasgow

George Gillespie, Executive Director at Glasgow City Council, said: “Kelvingrove Park is a fantastic asset for Glasgow and it must remain a safe place for everyone who wishes to visit. Unfortunately, alcohol-fuelled disorder has caused fear and alarm in the past, but last year’s intervention to stem alcohol from being consumed in the park made a big difference.

“Having enforcement officers and police waiting at a limited number of entrances to prevent alcohol coming into Kelvingrove helped to make a visit to the park a far more positive experience. This year we will only be limiting the number of open gates when we have to.

“But if we have reason to believe large numbers will gather we can move quickly to have staff waiting at entrances to remind visitors of our park rules that indicate alcohol is not welcome in Kelvingrove.”

Glasgow Times:

Earlier this month, we told how police were called to disperse crowds of St Patrick's Day partygoers who flocked to the spot to enjoy the sunshine. 

Despite the "stay at home" rule, large gatherings of youths were broken up by officers and advised to go home. 

Chief Inspector, Natalie Carr, said: "We understand people will want to take advantage of the good weather and enjoy Kelvingrove Park, but we want to ensure it’s a safe space for everyone.

READ MORE: Kelvingrove Park: Litter left across park after day of sunshine

"We know that the antisocial behaviour in the park is often fuelled by alcohol and because of this we will be working in support of Glasgow City council to enforce the council park rules which prohibit the possession and drinking of alcohol in the park.

“If you do decide to come to the park with alcohol, it will be confiscated and you may be fined for consuming it. We want everyone to enjoy the good weather in the park as it is often in short supply here in Scotland, but people’s safety must always come first.”

Glasgow Times:

Similar measures were brought into Kelvingrove Park last year following a series of incidents that saw mass gatherings in spite of Covid laws.

Events entailed public drinking, public urination, significant littering and disorder - which included assaults on police officers. The introduction of managed access to the park led to a significant drop in anti-social behaviour in and around Kelvingrove on busy days.