There should be no cycling in Abington Park.

A relaxing stroll in the park with my two-year-old grandson or two dogs is invariably spoilt by cyclists hurtling past with no warning or thought for safety.

I recently had a hip replacement operation and am making a good recovery, but I fear being knocked over by these cycling thugs.

Sooner or later there will be a serious accident.

Most people stick to the rules and clear up after their dogs.

This was brought about by a campaign to encourage this and the resulting few fines to people ignoring this rule served to make sure most dog owners now help to keep the park a cleaner place.

Surely a similar scheme, with lots of signs and a few prosecutions, would deter cyclists from using the park as a cycle track.

I have spoken to the council and parks department but to no avail.

Until an accident happens, which it will, and some action is taken, going to Abington Park is no longer a pleasure.

Do not underestimate the damage and injury a mountain bike and rider could do to a child, adult or dog.
Susan Andrews,
Ashley Way, Westone,
Northampton.

Toothless tigers fail to help us
May I add to Mr Harper's letter of July 26. Cycling in Northampton's parks has always been a by-law offence, which was brought in following a serious accident several years ago.

It was my duty as a park ranger to enforce these laws until I retired in 2000.

I have seen cyclists riding furiously through Abington Park, especially downhill towards the lake.

My prayers went unanswered and on foot, I was unable to apprehend them.

I spoke with one cyclist riding near the bowling greens.

My intention was only to inform him of the "no cycling" rule.

He became belligerent and abusive and I reported him for further action.

On three occasions I attended the magistrates court to give evidence, but the offender never put in an appearance. Toothless tiger springs to mind.

In a recent conversation with Tony Ansell, I learned that there is now only one park ranger to cover all parks, open spaces and allotments, of which there used to be over 80 when I and my dozen or so fellow rangers were employed by NBC.

Poor chap . . . I wonder if his family have reported him as a missing person?

In the beautiful, historic town of Celle in Northern Germany, there is a park called der Französische Gärten (French Gardens).

At the entrance there is a small notice reading "Kein Radfahren" (No Cycling).

Without exception, all cyclists dismount and push their cycles through this lovely park.

What a contrast to the actions of some cyclists in this town.

If Mr Harper so wishes, I will accompany him on a walk through the Abington Park to view the flora and fauna.
Bernie Blaikie,
Hyde Road, Roade.

£10 a day to park at hospital
The writer of the letter about the high cost of parking at Northampton General Hospital got off lightly.

I was mugged by the same machine but for £10 and then asked to go back the next day for possibly another £10 parking charge.

Some departments still insist that you report to reception for 8.30am and they fit you in when they can.

You slip into the £10 charge in the early afternoon, after six hours.

Recently, I could not be seen by the consultant and was sent away at 5pm and asked to go back the next morning, at 8.30am.

No concession on a second day's parking fee.

NGH is the most expensive parking in town, even more than commuters pay at the rail station.

It is disgraceful that patients have to pay so much.
Bob Hartley,
Bourton Close, Northampton.

It's a fair price
So Mr Currey feels hard done by about the cost of parking at the general hospital, (Viewpoint, July 28).

He complains about paying £2.20 to park his car.

I have to visit the hospital three times a week and do not have a car and use a taxi, like many other patients and visitors do. From where I live, a taxi ride to the outpatients costs £5-£6 and I am often in and out within 30 minutes.

I do not believe that the hospital should bear this cost, nor do I believe that free car parking should be provided, which would be done at a cost to the NHS.

Mr Currey sings the praises of Milton Keynes, yet it costs £2 for up to four hours to park at their general hospital.

No, Mr Currey has not been mugged, he has paid a fair price.
Geoff Howes,
Alliston Gardens, Northampton.

Join us for game of Petanque
Referring to a letter of July 16, Mr R Weston was asking for Northampton Borough Council to provide a Petanque terrain for the older generation.

I would like to point out that the U3A group that we belong to is a charity organisation and does not possess funding for such projects.

Also, the game of Petanque can be played by all ages, gender and abilities, including disabled persons and by schools, as in parts of East Anglia, to complement their French lessons.

It provides a low cost sport for all, no special clothing or shoes are required as in green bowls and it only occupies less than a quarter of the space, with little or no maintenance and it doesn't need to be perfectly flat.

You only need three steel bowls, some of which are available at very low cost, but I would advise anyone interested having a word with an experienced player before buying a set.

We do frequently play at Sywell, which is quite good but is not suitable for inter-club matches, nor is it accessible for some of our members without transport and some object to having to pay to park.

I would like anyone interested to contact me, Petanque group leader, U3A Northampton, at the address below.
Ray Goodman,
32 Woodside Avenue,
Boothville,
Northampton, NN3 6JW.

Trapped behind faulty barriers
Northampton Borough Council should thank the glorious, warm evening which saved it from having a riot of a couple of hundred people outside St John's multi-storey car park.

I am sure there would have been one if it had been a wet, thundery end to a wonderful performance of Joseph at the Derngate theatre.

All of us came away so happy and thrilled by the show, to find ourselves queuing for up to one hour to pay our 80p evening parking charge into one machine at the car park entrance.

The only other machine which is in commission was "sorry, out of order".

We then had to queue in our cars to get out, because the two exit barrier machines were faulty and the poor car park attendant was having to run around between both of them to help us out.

To my knowledge, this is not the first time this has happened and it is a disgrace.

When will the borough council install a foolproof system which will cope with a large theatre on the doorstep emptying out at one time, in order to eliminate the problem?

I felt very trapped behind these barriers that evening and I wonder what the health and safety people would have made of the situation!
Mrs N Pearson,
Howard Lane, Boughton.