Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Ealing's Park Rangers | |
Posted by: | Tony Sleep | |
Date/Time: | 16/12/10 15:39:00 |
What happened to Park Keepers is that they were done away with by past cuts in pursuit of efficiency. Park keepers were tied to particular parks and always around; the Ranger service was implemented as a cheaper, mobile means of achieving some of the same thing. Of course it did not. It was always wishful thinking that people who turned up intermittently could possibly maintain parks and security. Mission creep, green aspirations and career building have gradually redefined the role. Nevertheless the Rangers do worthwhile stuff, but they cannot substitute for full time staff based in each park. It's the wrong question whether they should be cut. Of course they should not, park maintenance and security is inadequate already, as you point out. The question before the council officers making these decisions is really how can we manage parks on an even smaller budget. Get rid of the rangers or get rid of ourselves? Guess which is uppermost in their minds. |