A BROMSGROVE councillor has said enough is enough after some Rubery residents have said they refuse go out in the dark.

For well over a year lamp posts and a CCTV camera in Brook Road Park have been out of order.

Councillor Peter McDonald said that because of the lack of lights and security people are afraid to go out.

He said residents do not have any protection or assurances, and as a result are at risk when using the popular park.

"Brook Road Park is well used and a major thoroughfare to the shops yet one of the CCTV cameras has been out of action along with a number of lamp posts for more than a year, not giving the protection and assurances to those using the park," he said.

"With the cutbacks in police numbers CCTV cameras are more important than they have ever been.

"Most people agree that surveillance cameras in public places are good, it helps in crime-prevention and works as a deterrence.

"Having cameras in public places that are lit up make people feel safe. If people know that there are cameras around them, they will most likely not do anything stupid. People feel safer in the knowledge that a potential mugger or attacker will be put-off by the presence of a camera.

"That feeling of protection for young people using the park and those having to use the park to get to the shops has been removed and people put at unnecessary risk."

He added: "There can be no excuse for the camera or lamp posts being out of action for so long.

"It is absolutely shocking and deplorable that Bromsgrove District Council ignore its duty of care to those using the park.

"It does not require rocket science to repair lamp posts or a CCTV camera, nor does it cost a fortune."

One resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he uses the park most days but admitted he did not feel safe when it was dark.

"I'm not a fan of going through the park when it's dark - it doesn't have to be late, even coming out of work can be scary," he said. "I know a few people who avoid it."

A spokesman from Bromsgrove District Council said: “The issues with CCTV in the park were raised with us in November. We can confirm that there has been an intermittent issue with this camera which we are hoping to fix soon.

"Unfortunately, the extreme rainfall and poor weather in the last month has meant that the ground is too soft to use the cherry picker and heavy lifting equipment needed to make the repair.

"Once the weather improves this work will be completed"

They added: "An order has already been raised to repair the lighting in the park and we are now waiting for our contractor to complete this work.”