Victoria Park in North Finchley is one of the treasures handed down to Barnet citizens. However, the No Cycling signs are out of date and the problem arises when people cycle fast on the same path as pedestrians, putting both young children and the elderly at risk.

Cycle lanes should be painted on the main paths to help to bring some control into what is at present a potentially dangerous situation.

Barnet Parks Committee should also consider the gradual deterioration of park benches owing to lack of maintenance.

Two benches are unfit for use, one of which was donated by a family in memory of a loved one.

Even in this time of cuts, money could be saved with policy change. For many years, there has been the practice of hand planting thousands of individual flowers outside the main gate entrance onto Ballards Lane. Last week, nine park gardeners were brought in to assist Victoria Park’s lone gardener, to plant the autumn display.

Time and money could be better used by planting selected shrubs with a border of flowers that would attract and give food to birds and bees. If the parks committee would update itself to what is happening, I am sure it would have the common sense to make the necessary changes to protect Victoria Park and our parks in similar situations.

Teddy Gold
Etchingham Park Road, Finchley