• I AM shocked and saddened to learn of the planned redundancies of the vital grounds staff in our local park Coram’s Fields, (Save our park! Fears keepers at historic park will be axed, February 10).

I am a weekly, if not daily, user of the park with my three children. And to be honest I feel it is made a safe space by the staff who are so kind and protective.

I have personally witnessed them looking after a family with a child of 11 who was threatened on the street. I have seen them quickly help in the search for children who couldn’t find their parent and vice-versa.

My young teenager, being out in the area with a dead phone knowing I would be worried, was able to pop in and have a chat with Noel who kindly charged her phone so she could call me. The fact that my daughter feels that she can do this and knows she will be looked after is paramount.

The saying that “it takes a village to raise a child” comes to mind when I think of Coram’s; the relationships the ground staff have with the users in the park are golden.

And this should not be taken away from us, the users, or the committed staff. I fear two of them are at an age where they will struggle to find other employment regardless of their experience, as this is the way the world works. So what are we going to do… throw them on the unemployment pile?

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED