Hampton Parks 'Under Attack'

12.36.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 1st Jun 2004

Vincent Cable, MP, has written to the council's Chief Executive over the "poor and totally inadequate level of supervision of the borough's parks, especially in Hampton".

This follows repeated complaints about the neglect of Carlisle Park since the withdrawal of the resident park warden over a year ago; and the episode a week ago when new play equipment was installed in Hatherop Park, costing tens of thousands of pounds, was immediately vandalised.

Vincent Cable said: "there is massive frustration amongst Hampton residents that they have potentially excellent parks on their doorstep which are going to 'rack and ruin' because of lack of supervision".

"I have been pressing the council for well over a year to replace the warden in Carlisle Park. There is a ludicrous position at present: there is a desperate housing shortage and an urgent need for someone to live in the flat who will keep an eye on the park. But the council are taking an eternity to find someone and rehouse them".

"In Hatherop Park there is a longstanding problem of vandalism which led to the destruction of a pavilion and has now led to a new set of equipment being vandalised within days of it being installed".

"It is obvious that there has to be closer supervision of the parks by wardens working in tandem with the police. But this isn't happening. A few years ago I approached a martial arts group to set up a base in Hatherop Park to provide both recreational opportunities for residents and security for the park. There has been no follow up by the council, nor on an alternative proposal to work with Busen in Twickenham. It is frankly naive to install equipment without thinking through the implications for supervision and security".