I AM grateful to the council's Leisure Services Department who have again closed Rowntrees Park during a stiff breeze. Thank goodness for the council officials, who have saved all those adrenaline junkie parkgoers, who want to risk injury walking under trees while they are shedding their leaves.

And I'm amazed by those irresponsible parents who would like to take their children to kick their way through the leaf litter or watch the waving branches. Why can't these parents who would risk their children's lives in a windy

park instead let them watch some television and play football by

the roadside? I demand that more council officials make resident safety their only priority.

Ban backstroke in public baths! Ban hanging flower baskets (in case someone might bump their heads)! Light up all footpaths across the strays in case pedestrians might trip up! And close down all the public parks during wet weather to prevent people slipping over.

Mark Hill,

Green Party Councillor

for Fishergate Ward,

Reginald Grove,

York.

Updated: 10:54 Tuesday, October 26, 2004