More than £50,000 has been made from barbecue charges and parking fines at Beddington Park during the past seven months.

Big groups of people were hogging public barbecues and others were parking outside of designated spaces, and for these reasons an enforcement trial at the park in Sutton started in May 2018 - continuing until April this year.

A report set to be discussed this week says: “The static barbecues were being used by a minority, held for the whole day, particularly at busy weekends, with large groups not allowing others to use them.

“This was compounded by groups of people arriving with large gas barbecues or making fires on the ground, large amounts of litter and waste being produced and left in the Park.

“There were also complaints regarding excessive noise from certain groups and anti-social behaviour.”

After the summer of 2017, Sutton Council decided to introduce a charge for using the barbecues.

Barbecuers are able to book one out for  £20 for a morning or afternoon slot, with two hour sessions costing £15.

Since the trial started, there have been 104 full day bookings, 152 half day bookings and 128 two hour bookings – this made the council more than £10,000 in revenue.

As part of the trial, parking enforcement in the park was upped.

From 661 hours patrolled in the park, 1,015 parking fines have been issued since May, with another 47 fines being issued in Church Road by parking services.

Of these, there has been a 65 percent payment rate - generating £45,000 for the council - and of the 211 appeals that were received just 19 were upheld.

The council also made £1,300 from fines issued for littering and dog fouling in the park.

The Beddington and Wallington Local Committee will meet from 7pm at Croygas Sports Club on January 22 when the issue will be discussed further.