Hampton Park

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 17th Sep 2003

Residents in Hampton are increasingly concerned that the popular and well maintained Carlisle Park is deteriorating rapidly following the loss of the resident warden. MP Vincent Cable has taken up the matter with the council after gangs of boys have been seen playing football on the bowling greens and tennis courts and reports of growing numbers of night

incursions leading to an increase in litter being left in the park.

Vincent Cable said: "Residents are concerned that the park will fall into the same cycle of decline seen in unsupervised Hatherop Park. I have raised with the council for over a year the problem of the resident park warden whose tenancy was in doubt and whose presence was crucial to maintaining the standards of the park; he has now left with no replacement

in sight".

"The council has made a positive move, which I welcome, to rehabilitate the playground in Hatherop Park. But the continuing uncertainty over the football pitch, which is used by local teenagers, has not been addressed. the council really has to focus urgently on this issue".