Basic Neglect

The general maintenance of Philips Park has always been ongoing but there are some areas that have obviously suffered neglect and are looking downright dilapidated. The Flower Gardens, the Boating Lake and the Bowling Green for example. The flower gardens at one time used to be a place of beauty. The park keeper seemed to have a sixth sense. If youngsters were in that area unaccompanied, he seemed to appear from nowhere to make sure they didn’t go anywhere near the flowerbeds! The last time I was in the park, there wasn’t a trace of a single flower in the garden area. The once popular boating lake is now just a dumping ground for any old rubbish, the water was covered in thick algae and the smell from it was terrible! In recent years there has obviously been some remedial work to the old bowling green. It has been restored, not quite to the same proportions it used to be. Half of it looks as though it is a wild flower meadow. However, with Philips Park being so close to the Olympic Stadium site, one would hope a lot more work is done to restore it to its former glory.

I have thought long and hard about why the humble parks are not as popular as they once were. In my opinion there are still plenty of people who can’t afford to go to theme parks during the summer, or go on holiday or take their children to see the many attractions that are on offer. They all cost money, especially if there is more than one child to be catered for. So why on a summers day aren’t the parks full of children and parents? I think I know the answer. TOILETS! Or rather, lack of them!

How can anyone spend a few happy hours in the park, especially with children, if there are not even the basic facilities provided? Any visit to the park would be cut short if you or one of the children were cut short, so to speak! Of course, we know a lot of public toilets were closed down and even demolished, because of vandalism and the dirty old men brigade and though I wouldn’t wish to encourage any of that business, I think it’s a terrible shame that we lose facilities for so many because of the hateful actions of the few.

Kathryn Bates.