As a resident of Stanmer Village I feel I must take issue with a section of Adam Trimingham’s article concerning Stanmer Park (The Argus, August 19).

While I couldn’t agree with him more about the wretched state of the park, which is truly dire and those in charge should be ashamed, I find Adam’s comment that “the village should be delightful but is strangely unwelcoming” rather insulting.

I have two issues. Firstly, why does he think the village needs to be welcoming? As a community we gain nothing from the visitors apart from noise, litter and dog excrement.

Secondly, what exactly would he like us to do? Put up bunting and “Welcome” banners? Open our doors and invite people in for coffee?

You’d be amazed how many visitors already wander up our paths into our gardens and gaze in windows and then looked shocked to find there are “real” people living there.

Few of us while out in our gardens would ignore anyone who stopped to chat as most of us are well aware of the beauty of the place and how lucky we are to live in it. We are more than happy to share that with passers-by.

How welcoming do you want us to be? I can only speak for myself but I feel I must point out this is our home and it is not there purely to make visitors feel welcome.

Maggie Scroggins
Stanmer Village, Brighton