With reference to your front page article concerning the on-going work in Mary Stevens Park, the park is looking beautiful and it is great to see all the families enjoying it these days. Everybody is pleased with all the improvements but there is one thing that I am not happy with and have spoken to other park users who agree with me. This is the removal of the conifers behind the war memorial.

These trees form a lovely soft green backdrop to the memorial and if you sit on the benches they form a screen from anything going on behind (e.g ball games, children and dogs playing etc).

I have written to Councillor Hilary Bills about this and told her that several people have agreed with me.

To back up my case I carried out a small survey and sent this to her to show that the regular users of the park do not wish to lose the conifers.

I feel that the park users should have their say. One comment I received was ‘They’ll do what they like’ meaning the council but shouldn’t the council respect the people’s wishes? I think, if given a choice, the park users would rather the conifers stay but the car park be extended onto the little used part of the park by the big fallen tree.

AS Jackson Stourbridge