People have lost their jobs but no one cares

I am so pleased the parks in peril subject is being brought into the public domain.

I was a parks and nursery manager for Calderdale Council in Halifax and Kirklees Council in Huddersfield from 2004, and I was proud to provide a high level of service for both authorities, supplying bedding plants and floral displays.

But since 2014, budgets at both authorities were cut so severely that the Kirklees plant nursery was forced to close, putting skilled local people out of work. The move deprived residents of bright floral displays. Savings in budgets also resulted in a steep decline in the quality of parks and the maintenance of green spaces – much to the disappointment of local residents.

Calderdale Council has suffered similarly, with grass cutting reduced from 12 to five times a year. Luckily this year grass has not grown much due to the unusually dry weather.

If it had been a normal season, the grass would have been waist high in many places.

More than 50 per cent of traditional flowerbeds have disappeared and bedding plant production is down by two-thirds

compared to the early 2000s. Parks are suffering from lack of maintenance, skilled staff are retiring and not being replaced, but councillors are simply not interested. However, when the social care bill increases due to a lack of facilities, they will wonder why.

Council budgets for both authorities have been hit disproportionately to many other councils, putting open spaces at risk of disappearing for good.

Urgent help is needed to prevent any further decline. Name supplied via email