SIR: The North Walls Rec plan put forward by the city council’s consultants certainly includes some novel features, but arguably is the sort of scheme that would be more appropriate in a real city centre location, where the park was surrounded by built up areas. Sharing more than half it's perimeter with the nature reserve and playing fields, the site of the “Rec” is surely more of a transition from city to countryside, so that apart from the sports pitches, the natural environment should predominate.

This approach might still allow the grand archway or similar feature marking the entrance, and for some new all-weather paths to replace the present, often muddy routes across the grass. But generally, surely, no more grass should be paved over, and even perhaps some of the leisure centre footprint reclaimed for nature. If the proposed plaza and/or observation tower were omitted, then perhaps the Cricket Pavillion (for which community support is already confirmed) could be fully funded more easily.

However, the park is eventually re-designed, it needs to be better maintained in the future, so that the grass gets more attention in winter and, for example, glyphosate weedkiller is no longer used inappropriately, and neglect of newly planted - including commemorative - saplings can be avoided.

Steve Marper,

Monks Road,

Hyde,

Winchester