‘Rats are running free in my childhood park’
A BATLEY man has shared his fury after seeing his childhood park “neglected” with “vermin roaming free.”
Steve Battye visited Wilton Park for the first time in a year last week, excited to take his dog to the spot he “loved as a kid”. But to Steve’s despair he found his childhood park “in disrepair”.
The Kirklees resident claims to have found the “former lively park” with no grass, massive holes, overflowing bins, and a rat-infested play area. Steve was left disappointed by his visit after previously remembering it as a park with “amazing” gardens.
Steve said: “I went to Batley Park today for the first time in about a year. I was taking the dog back to my favourite place I loved as a kid.
“Omg what a mess. What’s happened to the lively park. No grass at all around the lake just mud. Then on walking back to the car I thought ‘what are all those massive holes in the mud and grass near the top of the lake?’
“I then realised what they are massive rat holes. Rats running freely during the day I saw three. It’s disappointing how this lovely park is now unkept and the rat infested children’s play area.”
He added: “The site is obviously not looked after the same as it was. There was overflowing bins which has attracted vermin and they run freely during the day. I worry about how many will be out at night.
“Bagshaw museum was a lovely place to visit and the gardens were amazing. This has now gone to ruin and you can’t even use steps due to health and safety issues. It’s very disappointing a park that I used as a child, that is used all and was always looked after is in such a state.”
Steve added that he has noticed other parks such as Huddersfield’s popular Greenhead Park is looked after by the council but Batley’s park isn’t, he claims.
The annoyed resident added: “It was shocking to see the disrepair and it’s unkempt. It’s just so annoying when you see Greenhead Park and how the council looks after that park versus Batley Park.
“We complain children have no places to play or do activities. But Batley has the nicest park around but through neglect the children of today won’t experience the same park I attended as a child.”
Colin Parr, Strategic Director for Environment and Climate Change responded to Steve’s concerns, explaining how the council are managing the upkeep of Milton Park.
He said: “Unfortunately rats are encouraged by food left behind by some members of the public and this has seen an increase since the pandemic with more people enjoying the park.
“We are currently exploring other options to control the rat populations through pest control. This alone though won’t solve the problem and need the support of the public to help us combat this issue.
“Any food brought into the park for ducks and birds is also a food source for rats, along with food not disposed of correctly, so we ask visitors to be mindful of this when visiting our parks. The park undergoes regular grounds maintenance including litter picking, grass cutting and the planting of bedding.
“There are also discussions underway with the Lawn Tennis Association to improve the lawn tennis courts and the playground has been allocated funding under the Playable Spaces scheme.”