Park damage

SIR, — On Sunday morning my heart sank as I strolled in Verulamium Park, St Albans, in the area known as St Germain s Mead. The annual firework spectacular — held in atrocious conditions on Saturday evening — had led to an awful mess. A previously-beautif

SIR, - On Sunday morning my heart sank as I strolled in Verulamium Park, St Albans, in the area known as St Germain's Mead.

The annual firework spectacular - held in atrocious conditions on Saturday evening - had led to an awful mess. A previously-beautiful area of grass parkland had been reduced to a quagmire - a muddy blot on the landscape.

In creating the wonderful firework display, a lovely aspect of the park has been decimated, not by the footfall of the many hardy spectators but rather the inappropriate use of a number of motor vehicles. The imprint of the tracks of these vehicles have left a hideous legacy that will disfigure the park for the whole of the winter, if not beyond. It's actually debatable whether the grass can be reinstated to its former glory.

As the event was organised by St Albans Cathedral and the park owned by St Albans District Council and maintained by John O'Conner, I should like to ask publicly:

What steps will be taken to reinstate the grassland, when and by whom and who will foot the bill?

And crucially, what will be done to prevent a recurrence ?

DR ROBERT WAREING,

Claudian Place, St Albans.