The article in The Argus (April 15) on damage caused by disposable barbecues draws attention to a city-wide problem.

By the end of 2006, a draft set of bylaws for our parks and gardens had been exhaustively thrashed out and was ready for the final consultation with significant user groups.

Then, after a departmental reorganisation, alongside the loss of key officers, the Open Spaces Forum and its steering committee, which had driven the progress, was disbanded without discussion and three years good work on bylaws dissipated.

The problem is that without the display of legally based notices there is no sigificant power of enforcement. Moreover, the display of notices has in itself the best educational effect, far better than any sporadic vists from officers with leaflets.

Picking up from where we left off in early 2007 is long overdue. It seems that our council will shortly have the power to complete that process without any time-consuming reference to central government. The previous administration completed the new seafront bylaws. This one should complete those for parks and gardens in 2009.

Given the political will, that should be possible because all potential difficulties have already been ironed out, those who need consulting have been identified and the support of open spaces and residents’ groups well established.

Tom Chavasse Chairman, The Friends of Brunswick Square and Terrace