MR A Culverhouse (Letters, March 25) criticises me for the move to set up a "Friends of Whitehall Park" group because this means volunteers will be doing the work council workers should be doing. If this was the case, the criticism would be justified.

We are not expecting local people to be out there cutting the grass, pruning the trees, or cleaning up the rubbish. What we want is the involvement of local people in developing ideas on how the park can be improved.

One of the problems we face is the lack of council funding. If we form a support group, then we will be able to bid for extra funding and, so, bring more resources into maintaining and improving the park.

In fact, if we are successful it should bring more work into the council as the extra resources will allow us to do more things. If Mr Culverhouse is so keen then I hope he will join us in fighting to improve one of the jewels in Darwen's crown -- Whitehall Park.

Councillor KARIMEH FOSTER (Whitehall Ward), Derby Close, Darwen.