Bring back the park keeper.

Richard Wyatt,

It’s good to know that the supporters of a revamped Sydney Gardens can look forward to a new year in which their dreams can begin to come true – thanks to Heritage Lottery funding.

However, can l just point out that whatever wonderful restoration work is done, nothing can be truly achieved without re-instating the Park Keeper.

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Minerva’s temple in Sydney Gardens.

B&NES austerity took him away and, since then, there has been no one to keep a watchful daily eye and stop outbreaks of vandalism at various points within this historic public space.

Someone might have been able to scold whoever brushed their dog and left the fur everywhere too!

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It looks like dog hair everywhere.

On that subject, a new-look park must have designated dog areas.

Too often l have seen our four-legged friends urinating over grassed areas on which babies are seen to crawl later in the day.

It is – after all – not a general dog run but a facility for everyone.

Published by Richard Wyatt

Freelance Journalist, broadcaster, columnist and local historian. Director of Bath Newseum. Married and lives in Bath. Interested in local history, architecture and visual display in museums and urban spaces.

3 Comments

  1. I totally agree with you that there should be a dog exercise area. There is plenty of grass to have some used for children (and adults who wish to picnic) and some for dogs.

  2. Agree totally! Do you have any power to get through to the people in charge?!
    Happy New Year!

  3. It is obvious from your article that you, Richard Wyatt are not a dog owner. As a responsible dog owner, I take exception to your suggestion that a dog peeing on the grass is a major health hazard to children. I accept that dog poo is and responsible owners pick it put up and put it in the bin. Designated dog areas do not work. They tried it in Kensington Gardens in London and no dog would use it. If you knew anything about dogs you would know that they can be trained not to pee at home but it cannot be controlled when they go out. We brought up three healthy children using Bath City Parks and none of them suffered from any dog peeing on the grass.
    I agree that we should have Park Keepers back and BANES Council have no plans to increase spending on parks, all very badly neglected, the result of Tory austerity. Maybe we should petition to bring back Bath City Council so that we Bath Residents control our destiny, not Councillors from Wansdyke.

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