HAVING read the articles in the Bury Times about Bury and Radcliffe in Bloom and also the praise of the various parks in the area, I would like to express my concern about the green area between Grindsbrook Road and Higher Ainsworth Road in Radcliffe.

I admire the hard work that goes on to get the awards. I only wish that the same dedication could be shown where we live. From the main road a lovely wild flower area can be seen with the deer grazing happily.

However looking beyond this area we have an almost non existent stream choked by four foot high weeds overhanging. On the sloping bank beyond the stream which leads to Brookside Walk there is a jungle, three foot high grass and weeds where no one dare tread, because of health and safety reasons, this fact has been stated by the council groundsmen.

There is a beautiful willow tree its branches overhang the stream, but due to the heights of the weed and grass the branches just merge into the overgrowth. We have lived in our property for over eight years and the area has been kept under control, but we are now informed that the machines cannot be used as the bank is too steep.

There must be other areas that have steep banking, are none of them going to be maintained. Will we end up with little jungles everywhere? It is a false economy to allow the weeds and grass to get to such a height because when they die off the weeds and dead branches will block the culvert and the area will flood. Then the area will have to be cleared regularly.

In this day and age there must be a way to maintain the area safely. I have phoned the council on numerous occasions regarding the above matter but to no avail. I am not asking for something to be done as a special favour, as this work was carried out up to a few months ago

Ivan Fish

Brookside Walk

Radcliffe