I AM usually a placid individual but blew my top when I saw the Bolton Metro advertising feature in the BEN about 'Blooming Bolton'. I had just visited Farnworth Central Park.

You recently printed a letter from me about the lack of litter in Barrow Ford Park, near Nelson, compared with the litter-strewn Farnworth Park.

Another fact is that the Pendle park has many litter bins with lids, and 12 bins for dog dirt. Farnworth has no dog bins and the too few litter bins are a disgrace, badly designed, some broken.

I remember when Farnworth Park had a lake with a waterfall down to a duck pond by an animal sanctuary, and children's sand pit. Now all gone.

I recall the bandstand in the Rose Garden where we had regular entertainment -- now gone.

Visitors can no longer sit in the Rose Garden and enjoy the sight and smell of fragrant roses, which is perhaps as well; the roses are well past their sell-by date.

All seats have gone. The Council has destroyed the toilets in the park and near the east and west entrances because of their litter policy -- they think it is better that human litter which used to go down the toilet drains is better deposited on public land.

The well-designed shelter at the end of the broadway has now gone.

In 1965, as Mayor, I opened the new pavilion near the bowling green -- now locked for 24 hours each day and vandalised, as is the monument to Mr Barns MP, who gave the park to the people of Farnworth, and to Mr Gladstone, who opened it.

It is now a disgrace to these two men who served us so well. It used to be graffiti-free, surrounded by flowers, hanging baskets, flower boxes etc. The wide flight of steps up to it are the park's biggest eyesore. Lastly, we also had an annual firework display -- now gone.

But the biggest disgrace is the Council treatment of the Garden of Rest. The idea was that a garden should be provided around the War Memorial, by public prescription, where family members and friends of people who were killed during the wars could sit and reminisce; possibly pray.

The garden, walled off from the rest of the park, contained a box with a glass lid containing a book of scrolls with the names of the Farnworthians who gave their lives for their country. A page of the book was turned over each day.

The display box and the book have now gone. The book contained the names of my uncle and five close young friends. Above the box was a large neon red cross which lit up the area by night -- now gone. What was once laid out as a beautiful garden is now third rate. All the seats have gone.

Councillors should hang their heads in shame at the treatment of Farnworth's war heroes and their families, but not one of them, of any party, seems to care.

I also remember Darley Park with its 12 tennis courts, two bowling greens, putting green, flower beds, two pavilions (one with changing rooms for both ladies and gentlemen) -- now all gone. All that remains is a wilderness and a badly-maintained football pitch.

I see the Council has the sense not to invite the judges of the 'Britain in Bloom' competition to the south end of the Borough -- only the affluent areas of the town.

We in the south pay our taxes, and our parks should all be maintained to the same standards. We badly need open space in the south as we are further from the countryside.

Good luck to Kearsley residents who have shown their displeasure at the Council plan to sell the 'parkland' at Singing Clough by sacking two Labour councillors.

One of my long-term political opponents, Cllr Margaret Rothwell, was reported in the BEN as wisely saying that the takeover of Kearsley by Bolton had been a disaster for Kearsley residents. I agree with her. The new Bolton has also been a calamity and catastrophe for Farnworthians.

Bolton in Bloom? Farnworth in Gloom!!!

George K Brown

Ex Farnworth Council Parks Chairman

Barncroft Road

Farnworth