ON the list of services on the Blackburn with Darwen Council website the one entitled 'Parks and Open Space Development' has a stated service description to "conserve, enhance and develop the borough's parks and open spaces in order to meet user needs."

Taking each of the tasks in order, a fine example of their work can be seen in the Lily Pond area of Witton Park, in Blackburn.

To conserve? The grass on Darwen Moors is in far better condition than the 'lawns' at the back of the pond. Several times recently I have watched a heron hunting in the swamp which now occupies a large part of the lawn and two of the paths.

To enhance? Three of the 200-year-old yew trees were set on fire and destroyed some months ago. The destruction has been reported at least twice to my knowledge and probably more often.

They have not been removed and now enhance the path by their ugliness and by creating a magnificent obstacle course for any walkers. The remaining yew trees which used to be trimmed and wired to shape are now badly neglected and overgrown.

To develop? To meet user needs? In this, those responsible are succeeding. We have all seen the council's new slogan 'Thrash the trash.' Any visitor will see that the Lily Pond is rapidly being developed as the biggest receptacle in the town.

I walk in Witton Park or Pleasington Fields about five times a week with my dog. I never see gardeners, wardens or rangers. The only council employees we ever see are the ones cutting or marking out the football fields or occasionally cutting what is now called 'the event field.'

What about the rest of the place? The council can't just set up yet another volunteer group and wash their hands of responsibility for the place.

When we moved to this area 40 years ago, Witton Park was a beautiful place. Slowly, over the years it has suffered greater and greater neglect each year.

This is shameful and a disgrace to a town which believes it deserves to be a city.

PETER DUERDEN, Countess Road, Lower Darwen, Blackburn.