Someone must be responsible for neglect of Downpatrick park

SIR, — I went to call on my in laws last week and had to go around the back of their house to check if they were up. What I saw would make you think you are in a deprived area where neglect is rampant and there is a wanton carelessness towards surroundings.

However, this was not a living environment outside of our reach but Thomas Russell Park, which sits in full view of St Patrick’s Church in the heart of Downpatrick. 

It is a disgrace that the very park which was named after the last man to be hanged in Downpatrick should be the very area which is run down and neglected.

At the museum a plaque reminds us of Thomas Russell but there is no such recognition for the park which took his name in his memory.

The detritus strewn with careless and unconscionable abandon reminds us of the reality of the society we have come to accept as normal. One which takes no regard of the individual or collective responsibility which should mean we have to keep our environment clean and tidy.

Our clean, tidy, well kept environment should be a reflection of the pride we should have in our local community.

The residents of Russell Park must be horrified to realise that they are a neglected community.

Out of sight is definitely out of mind in this small residential enclave. It would be understandable if the council neglected this area because no rates were paid. 

But many of these residents work hard for a living and pay taxes and rates as law abiding citizens.

The trouble is that they do not make trouble. They are the people who are too busy working hard all week to have the time to complain about the lack of council responsibility towards their area.

However, ask yourself this. Are these the people who are littering the area with discarded drink cans and beer bottles, debris from unwanted packaging after the food has been consumed?

We all know the answer to that question.

Russell Park is used as a bypass from the Racecourse Road and is regularly used at night by drinkers and antisocial activists, particularly at the weekends.

Subsequently the law abiding citizens using this short cut have to endure sights of desecration of what should be a beautiful aspect of our town — green fields which roll out behind Russell Park and onto the surrounding areas.

So what is to be done?

Our local community, particularly our councillors, need to hit home hard with local legislation regarding underage drinking, drinking in public places and dumping of debris, etc.

It is no good putting one or two environment officers on the streets. It may be a start, but Environmental Enforcement Officers are too thin on the ground. Legislation needs to be enforced and greater vigilance by our local police in the smaller, less well lit and observed areas needs to be taken.

If the community feels the law is on its side in a very real way it puts heart into those law abiding citizens who quite frankly would need a large shot of societal adrenaline.

Yours etc.,

PATRICIA MARTIN,

Downpatrick.