COUNCILLOR Gill Mitchell's comments about the decline of our parks in The Argus today paint a worrying picture for the state of our beloved green spaces.

But her refreshingly honest words are no doubt made with the best intentions.

There's no point assuming our parks will be maintained like they used to be by the city council if it simply cannot afford it.

Take a stroll around Preston Park today, like our reporter did a week ago, and you will have a fantastic time in a beautiful setting. Fear not, the decline is not so bad that you will have anything less than a lovely walk.

But that is thanks to the scores of volunteers and friends of the park who roll up their sleeves and get stuck in.

We spoke to them and they would argue with Cllr Mitchell's comments about the level of pride in our parks.

They still have great pride in Preston Park. But Cllr Mitchell's comments are not directed at them - it seems they were made more to highlight the situation we are in, with continued threats to our numbers of parks staff and the amount available for the upkeep of our flowers, hedgerows, railings and the like.

The Preston Park Velodrome - the oldest cycle track in the country, also benefits from a strong public support which has secured its future and made sure it is improved.

While these community efforts are cause for celebration the problem being highlighted here is that if it wasn't for these hardy souls some of our public spaces would be in a mess.

The next two years are crucial for Stanmer due to funding bids but the same could be said for all our parks.