PERHAPS 'A Concerned Mother' (Route to park's a pedestrian nightmare, Dear Star August 12) would be wiser to take her chances with nightmare traffic conditions in Toll Bar and Prescot Road than to risk the perils of Taylor Park.

The local authority allow service vehicles to roar along footpaths which are so narrow that they ban cyclists from using them. And the wagons are then allowed to race across the playing field, in spite of the obvious risk to children and other park users, so that rubbish bins can be emptied. I have a written undertaking from Brian Johnson, our grandly-titled Civic Pride and Community Spaces Manager, that all drivers have been reminded of the 5mph speed limit in force inside the park, a measure endorsed by council leader Marie Rimmer.

The reminder went in one ear and out of the other, on the evidence of the continuance of this madly dangerous practice. Also ignored is Mr Johnson's written undertaking that drivers should not take their vehicles onto the field. I have reported the breaches to Mr Johnson.

The public - and children in particular - are entitled to treat Taylor Park as a safe haven and should not be suddenly confronted by wagons thundering around.

There is a much safer alternative: There are sufficient entrances to the park, serviced by public roads, to allow vehicles to access littler bins etc. A little bit of fetching and carrying should not prove a hardship, given that there is usually a three-man team aboard the vehicles.

Perhaps our new breed of West Park Ward councillors might take the issue on board as a priority. Or will it first need a fatality to force an examination and rethink of this crazy policy?

WORRIED Walker (name and address supplied)