CHARLIE CROFT’S suggestion that community groups could take over the locking and unlocking of York’s parks every evening and morning is completely unrealistic (The Press, February 25).

Locking up is a big job, involving first clearing the park of people – I estimate it could take up to an hour. Most people involved in ‘friends’ groups of parks are either elderly or those with young children and plenty of other commitments.

I support the idea of people volunteering in their community and do so myself, but not for performing essential, everyday services. Why is it, when savings have to be made, it’s so often low-paid staff doing basic essential work who are threatened rather than managers taking a pay cut?

Catherine Heinemeyer, Very Young Friends of West Bank Park, Holly Bank Grove, Holgate, York.