THERE has been a gradual deterioration in maintenance at Happy Mount Park ever since the park's management board was abolished.

Recently I have noted the front gates and railings are in desperate need of painting and all the lamp posts used for hanging baskets are the same. Nearly all the park benches and picnic tables also need treatment.

The once beautiful Japanese garden is now an overgrown jungle with dirty pools and stagnant water - and the same sort of problem exists along the woodland walk - while the steps down to the sunken garden are in dangerous disrepair and signs to the scented garden have perished. All the larger rubbish bins are in poor condition.

Williamson Park has a management board and rightly so. But because of the high usage of Happy Mount Park in the summer by visitors and local people alike, surely a management board is needed here too to ensure its upkeep and maintenance. I hope the city council cabinet will reinstate it.

Cllr Tony Wade, Westgate.