Path warnings for park users

Jun 15 2006 By Steve Johnson, Birmingham Mail

WARNING signs have gone up in a Midland park because of the "terrible" condition of paths which caused a two-year-old boy to fall flat on his face.

Young mum Jessica Langston was fuming after her son Bertie tripped and fell in Lightwoods Park, at Bear-wood, cutting his face badly.

Jessica, aged 25, of Marlborough Road, Bearwood, lodged an complaint with Birmingham City Council, which owns and manages the park.

Now council chiefs have placed signs to warn park users that some of the paths are in poor repair.

A Birmingham City Council spokesman said: "We are aware that pathways are in need of repair and a major refurbishment of Lightwoods Park is due to begin shortly.

"We are consulting with residents in both Birmingham and Sandwell who use the park about where they would most like to see the money spent.

"A total of around £300,000 is available for improvements to the park which will include walkways. In the meantime we have been making temporary repairs and have also put up warning signs."

But Jessica claimed today that she believed it would be 12 months before anything permanent was done.

"What I can't understand about all this is that Coun Mike Whitby, the leader of Birmingham City Council, lives only a few hundred yards from the park but the paths have still been allowed to fall into a dangerous condition.

"I was out with Bertie and my baby Rufus when Bertie tripped and fell on the path. He fell flat on his face and cut his nose badly."

Sandwell councillor Bob Piper, whose Abbey ward covers Lightwoods Park, said: "I have been complaining about the state of this park for years. The pathways are basically disintegrated and are full of potholes."

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