Dirty town (From Penarth Times)

Dirty town

I RECENTLY returned from a holiday in Spain, visiting a number of coastal townships.

I was able to enjoy walking through well-kept parks with neat flower beds and pathways.

The beaches were cleaned regularly. The promenades were a pleasure to use.

What a contrast to Penarth!

Our esplanade exhibits rusting lamps and railings, a pier pavilion which is a disgrace, a run-down and neglected Italian Gardens shelter, a dirty shoreline and the eyesore and shambles of the restaurant block.

The rose beds in Alexandra Park are a mass of weeds. In Windsor Gardens many of the flower beds have now been grassed over.

This may be a response to vandalism. If so, it is a totally negative approach.

The former park-keeper's cottage is now used as a gardener's hut and is falling into disrepair.

I would suggest selling the property and earmarking the substantial proceeds for park maintenance and improvements.

The overall picture is one of neglect and creates the impression of a society which does not care and is verging on bankruptcy.

The Victorian planners of Penarth did a fine job. They gave us good parks leading from the town centre to the cliff walk.

Why on earth can we not respect their legacy?

Why can we not find the resources to maintain them in good order?

Heaven knows, we pay enough rates.

Bill Webber

Augusta Road

Penarth