The future of Stanmer Parks hangs in the balance.

Recently an emotive questionnaire issued by Brighton and Hove City Council reached me.

It was called Protecting Stanmer Park For Future Generations and the language was leading the public to say "Yes" to the questions.

From the front cover I quote: "Imagine a park where you can let your children play safely, a place where you can push your buggy along a hard surface without having to dash for the grass constantly whenever a car comes, a place where the less mobile can have safer access. Being able to picnic, fly a kite or play ball without worrying if a car will come your way. The landscape as beautiful as it was designed to be. This is our vision of Stanmer Park - do you share it?"

Now, who in their right mind would say "No" to any of these things? No one, I wager.

I have been using Stanmer Park for more years than I care to remember - certainly since the planting of the cherry trees to commemorate the coronation of our present Queen.

Every time I visit (and this is most days) I see children playing safely all across the parkland. Never have I seen anyone having to dash for the safety of the grass from the bridleway that doubles as a road and most of the vehicles I see on the grass carry the Pavilion livery of our council.

After all, why should the ground staff walk from point to point to strim the grass when they have a little white van to drive across the grass in?

Now, let's consider the landscape.

Yes, successive councils have neglected the park along with the farm buildings and even the cottages in the village.

Brighton and Hove City Council owns most of these and is responsible for external and structural repairs, which includes the out-buildings.

Why did it do away with the old-style grounds team who were based in Stanmer Park, all of which was under the control of a single parks' manager?

How do I know about this wonderful park? John, my dear departed first husband, was part of the grounds team.

-Maggie Boardman, The Strand, Brighton Marina