The decision to keep all of Enfield’s parks unlocked has been delayed until next year.

Enfield Council had previously agreed to keep all of the borough’s parks unlocked to the public in a bid to cut costs.

However, the decision has been put on hold after a heated debate at an overview and scrutiny committee meeting on Wednesday night.

The decision had been called-in by members of the opposition party with Friends of Parks also voicing their concerns for the scheme which is predicted to save £26,000.

Peter Gibbs, chairman of the Friends of Parks Consortium labelled the reasoning for the decision as "incoherent" and that the decision should be made on a park-by-park basis.

He said: "There has been no consultation on this decision and the reasoning behind the proposals are incoherent.

"We now have to opportunity to sit down and discuss park-by-park instead of this being a cookie-cutter exercise."

Fears about a potential rise in anti-social behaviour were also brought up at the meeting and resulted in the delay until April 2015 on a decision.

Shadow cabinet member Councillor Joanne Laban, who called in the report, said: "I cannot believe Councillor Chris Bond made the original decision to not lock parks without consulting the Friends Groups and the Police.

"I am pleased that Chris Bond as a result of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Meeting has decided to delay implementation of this scheme and to work with both the Friends Groups and the Police."

Mr Gibbs added: "Following a vigorous examination of Cllr Bond's plans for reducing security in 23 of Enfield's parks, friends and residents gave cogent reasons for rejecting his proposals at the Council scrutiny panel this evening.

"He then without a vote undertook to consult fully with interested parties and to reshape night security plans for each affected park on a consensual basis by April 2015."

Cllr Bond said ‘We value our parks and the friends groups that assist us in running them.

"I have always offered to attend Friends Group meetings when they want me to and that offer still holds. I would urge those concerned to contact me so we can fully explain the decision and how it would affect parks.

"I would like to thanks those that have contacted me already on this matter and urge those not involved in their local park to do so."

The council also states that Cllr Bond offered to meet park groups and is yet to have a response.