“All children need a safe place to play outdoors but parents also need to be certain their local park is a suitable place for children to go. However, simply employing a contractor to turn up every so often to mow the lawns will not work. Neither will increasingly heavy security that deters as many residents as it does trouble-makers”.

“Local park keepers are vital in providing a safe place for families to enjoy themselves. They also stop parks from becoming blighted by litter, drugs and the fear of crime. The best parks are those which are in regular use because local people feel the park is an important part of their community. I urge councils to make sure their green spaces are cared for by local people”.