I WOULD like to bring to your attention the state of the park on Ladyshore Road.

This recreational area could so easily, with a little upkeep, be a very picturesque part of the borough.

As I am sure you are aware, many people use the park for various sporting and recreational activities throughout the year. However, in recent months the park has gone into a state of decline. The grass and road are littered with glass and rubbish and there is a distinct lack of waste bins in the area. My chief concern is one of safety, especially as the area is utilised by children of all ages.

In addition to the problem of rubbish, there is insufficient illumination in the evenings to the Ladyshore Road entrance. This could easily be remedied with the provision of a few street lamps. This would also discourage the crime and vandalism that has taken place over recently in the area.

Personally, I would much rather see children playing safely on a large expanse of grassland rather than negotiating main roads. However, it is only a matter of time before a child is injured by a piece of glass or something even more menacing.

The swings are a disgrace and limited to use by very young children. They are unsafe and there ought to be a rubber surface on the ground rather than concrete. There is also unsightly graffiti on the changing facilities. Provision of additional car parking would also be of benefit, during the summer months when a number of sports clubs are using the park, cars are double-parked along all the local roads. This makes it particularly dangerous for children who have to negotiate manoeuvring vehicles.

I recently had a visitor come to stay with me who commented on what a shame it was that the local park was in such a state of disarray, when Moses Gate Park is so pleasing to the eye and a credit to the district.

Sadly, this park, in its current state, lets the area down. It is also very close to the Ladyshore Nature area, which attracts a number of visitors who I am sure would make use of improved facilities on the park.

With a little investment, the improvements would greatly enhance the quality of life within the local community. I feel that initially, some efforts could be made for regular road sweeping and litter collection. In addition, the provision of street lighting would reduce the recent incidents of vandalism.

A few years ago, some effort was made to improve the facilities at the Mytham Road Park. I think the provision of lighting, decent play equipment and better sports changing facilities has much improved this area. I would consider that a similar effort at Ladyshore Park would be most beneficial to the local community.

V A Davies

Ladyshore Road

Little Lever, Bolton