Park tidy-up squad cuts it fine

Park tidy-up squad cuts it fine A DOZEN contractors converged on an overgrown prize-winning South Tyneside park - just as the Gazette investigated claims it had been "neglected" for weeks. However, Steve Piggin, treasurer of the Friends of West Park, said: "The grass was really tall in places, and I don't think it had been cut in eight weeks. The space, which is being used regularly by children from local primary schools, incorporates an outdoor classroom, nature trail, new wildlife area and benches. "It was a foot high, the flower beds were overgrown and someone had used chemicals or weedkiller on the borders, which looked awful. They claimed council-employed contractors had failed to keep the park looking its best, when the community and local schoolchildren are being encouraged to use the facility. But in under an hour of the Gazette making contact with South Tyneside Council and Monkton ward member, Coun Jim Sewell, a dozen-strong team of workers started cutting the grass at West Park. But volunteers from the Friends of West Park, who help maintain the area, said the grass was a foot high in places and hadn't been cut for weeks. But why did it take eight weeks to get the grass cut - and only after I'd pressed the council and the Gazette was involved?" An educational green space has been created in the park, thanks to a collaborative effort by the Friends of West Park, Groundwork South Tyneside and Newcastle, South Tyneside Council and Community Spaces and Jarrow schoolchildren, who planted hundreds of daffodils, bluebells and snowdrops. "As a result, a large team of ground maintenance workers attended the park to tend grassed areas and bed and restore them to their usual condition. "Just after I contacted the council and the Gazette, a big team of workers landed, with five vehicles. Coun Tracey Dixon, lead member for area management and community safety, said: "We were made aware last week that some areas of West Park were not meeting the high standards we expect. Poetic pupils have even created verses for signs dotted along the park's nature trail. "This year, we are also establishing certain areas of the park for wild flowers to develop. Park tidy-up squad cuts it fine Trade News selected by Local Linkup on 10/06/2012