“Unsafe and disgusting”: Batley residents say beauty spot not worthy of award

Batley residents say a beauty spot is not worthy of a coveted award after it has become more “unsafe and disgusting” than ever.

At the beginning of July, Batley’s Wilton Park was one of 118 locations across Yorkshire and the Humber to be awarded a Green Flag, which meant meeting rigorous standards for safety, accessibility, environmental management and community engagement.

Yet just weeks after winning the award, a memorial bench was “burnt to pieces”, fuelling local fury that the park is in a worse state than ever before.

Ralph Halgate, 76, and Martin Woods, 70, come to the park to visit their ‘pensioners corner’ and have both lived in Batley since they were young boys. Ralph said that “in his day” the park sported a beautiful boating lake, a beloved cafe and carefully managed lawns.

Now, Ralph said he felt the place was a “disgusting” shell of itself. Ralph said: “The boating lake used to be lovely, but now it’s just full of empty bottles. You see rats crawling everywhere. If you go (up to the tennis courts), there’s a bench that was burnt to pieces only last week.

“It’s disgusting, and it’s unsafe. There is no pride.”

Locals have also said this is not the first time they have complained. Peter Fawcett, 77, an ex-gardener, said he feared the Green Flag award was being “held up as evidence” by Kirklees Council as “an excuse” that the park was in good condition.

Peter said: “Recent evidence shows a scene of constant declining standards within our Parks. Parks matter, and looking through rose-tinted spectacles does nothing to improve them.

“(The Green Flag award) does not support the evidence that is clear to see that there is a continuous decline in standards of our Parks, so it is erroneous of (the council) to say to the contrary, as (they) previously stated that there was less and less money being spent on our parks.”

Executive Director for Place at Kirklees Council, David Shepherd, said debris following the burning of the bench had been “removed”.

Mr Shephard said: “We have huge pride in our parks in Kirklees and it is disappointing to see such reckless behaviour. This bench was a place for reflection and for families to remember their loved ones. Our thoughts go out to those for whom this bench was special.”

Previously, Mr Shephard also assured that Kirklees Council were “working through grass-cutting routes across the district”, explaining that the “recent warm weather” had played a large role in the unkempt grass and that the “herbaceous borders” would soon be tidied.

“Like many councils, we are working within reduced budgets and resources, which means fewer annual bedding plants have been planted this year. However, the displays we do have will continue to be cared for and maintained to a high standard.”

Kirklees Council have been contacted for comment.