PEOPLE-power is helping combat vandalism and litter at one of Bolton's best-known parks in a friendly partnership that is restoring it to former glories.

And now, Bolton Council is hoping that other groups can start up to emulate the newly-formed campaign group Friends of Moss Bank Park to enhance the town's valuable green assets.

The group's chairman David Butcher hopes they will help Moss Bank become an attraction the town can be proud of.

The council's executive member for culture, Cllr John Byrne, says: "Working this way has been very successful, and we would like to encourage similar schemes in our other parks and get more local people involved with them."

Since the organisation was set up, in the summer, its 18-strong membership has been working on an action plan to bring Moss Bank Park up to scratch.

David, aged 60, is the group's chairman and was instrumental in starting "The Friends".

The idea is for members of the group to help the council get a "grass roots" view of what can be done to improve things in local parks, says David.

His working background in local government, and a keen interest in improving the park, meant David was the ideal choice to be the group's chairman.

Members hold regular meetings, investigate the park's negative points and advantages and are hoping to gain funding for renovation and restoration work.

David, who lives with his 59-year-old wife Joan in Moss Lane, Bolton, has been a regular user of the park for many years as have his children and grandchildren.

He says: "We have always lived in the area and used the park. I can't tell you how many times I have won the FA Cup, the Open Golf Championship and Wimbledon playing on Moss Bank Park."

The group started its mission to improve the park with a litter pick and gathered together an incredible 32 bags of rubbish, enough litter to fill a dumper-truck and a half.

A major project planned for the future is the clean-up of the Moss Lane duck pond, near the park gates. David, a retired Salford Council deputy environmental health manager, explains: "There is only about three inches of water for the ducks to swim in.

"The pond has become overgrown and neglected and it looks a mess."

The group has been in touch with the Mersey Basin Trust, which organises water clean-up projects, and it is hoped they will be able to offer some expert advice and help in finding funding to turn the pond from an eyesore into an attraction.

Other problem areas the group hopes to improve include the rock garden, which did have a water feature that has now dried up, and they also hope to find ways to tackle the problem of vandalism which has plagued the park.

Cleaning

According to members of the group the toilet facilities at the bowling greens need cleaning up and would benefit from a disabled access.

The cafe and area adjacent to it are, according to the organisation's report, of a "dilapidated appearance and unattractive".

But David still believes the park has many advantages including an excellent surface on the tennis courts, well-cared for and popular bowling greens and popular, well-used, football pitches.

He says the railway is a big attraction, the play area has a wide range of equipment and is extremely popular and Animal World is also a big attraction for families.

The park was the venue for the Radio One "One Big Sunday" concert last year which, as David says, was extremely popular and proved the park could play host to a major event and attract thousands of visitors. Around 120,000 people converged on the park for the show.

Moss Bank Park has also been used for other events, including the RSPCA dog show and the Bolton Market Radio roadshow.

The group has already achieved some valuable improvements in the few months it has been in existence including improvement to the paths' drainage in the walled garden area, installation of new benches and much-needed weeding.

Members of the group meet twice a month to discuss plans and progress in the club house close to the park's miniature railway.

David says he is keen to see vandalism stamped out at the park. He explains: "Vandalism is a problem which costs money to put right, which takes money away from improving the park."

He hopes to encourage local schools to get involved, giving children a pride in the park.

David says: "Many people get a lot of enjoyment out of the park but all that some people put back is litter.

"Our aim is to make sure that the park's assets are maintained and its faults eliminated."

The group's work has been praised by Cllr Byrne who says: "There has been a lot of interest from local people about Moss Bank Park and how we can improve it.

"When they contacted the council we suggested that they form a group so that we would be able to communicate with local people. We are very supportive of their work and we are listening to some of their ideas.

"We have already worked together in improving the walled garden and the group has organised its own litter pick. By working together we will be able to improve the park for future generations."