WHILE recognising that Government imposed austerity has severely cut the budget of City of York Council we would like to express our strong opposition to the Council’s proposed policy of no longer locking public parks.

During February, the council has conducted an ‘experiment’ of unlocked park gates. This is an unrepresentative way of determining the effect of the policy as it is a dark and cold period.

The council claims that it is an outlier in that other towns and cities have adopted a no-lock-up policy. Have councillors and officers seen the effects of such policies on the Wirral, Merseyside, where parks have been severely damaged?

Even with a lock-up policy, York parks such as Glen Gardens in Heworth have been subject to bleach attacks on bowling greens, repeated theft of roofing material and other acts of vandalism. This will only be worse with a no lock up policy.

As shown in St Nicholas’s Field where children’s play facilities have been vandalised, there is a risk that bowling greens and play areas will be damaged and un-repaired due to budget problems.

The Victorians and subsequent generations invested in parks for the recreation and health of citizens. Local government has invested in preserving and enhancing these facilities over decades. Destroying this inheritance is an act of vandalism.

The council committee votes on Thursday to adopt this policy; we call on councillors to reject this proposal.

Liz Maynard, Alan Maynard, Bull Lane, Heworth, York.