Park life plea

Iwas really pleased to see Stewart Jackson in his PT column last week championing a plan by Nene Park Trust to develop riverside land between the rowing lake and the city centre into Thorpe Meadows Gateway Park. Back in2009 I wrote about the area in this column. I said: “It is a wonderful natural resource to the city, but is unused by many city residents and unloved, it would seem, by the authorities. “With a bit of investment and some TLC it could be magical. For starters, better lighting would make it safer and more attractive. Despite its beauty it can be intimidating at times as there are often gangs of people hanging around drinking alcohol. “Improved signage and better maintenance of hedges and paths would all give the area a lift. I concluded: “A little imagination and a bit of money could make a big difference.’’ I just hope the plans for the area don’t take as long to come to fruition as the ones to develop the South Bank (sorry, Fletton Quays) have.