David Hammond (Letters, February 1) suggests the employment of a park keeper or community warden for Preston Park, Brighton.

In the streets, one sees indulgent parents smiling as children harass birdlife and I do not trust parents either to be present or to stop the abuse of frogs and toads in Preston Park.

Some time ago, one vigilant parent, Denise Friend, begged in a report in The Argus for something to be done about needles on the Level.

I do not trust drug addicts and alcoholics to safeguard the interests of children in parks and open spaces.

At that time, Heather James was lead councillor for parks and open spaces.

She is now deputy chairwoman of Brighton and Hove City Council's newly created environment committee and, in view of her previous role, the main spokeswoman on parks and open space issues.

Councillor Chris Morely is the chairman of this committee and, within council offices, Jenny Rowlands heads the environmental directorate implementing political policies.

The recently created directorate of children, families and schools is headed inside the council by David Hawker while Councillor Pat Hawkes chairs the committee of elected councillors producing policies and overseeing this directorate.

Councillors and council officers can seem to occupy separate planets with little co-operation or communication between them.

Worse, the separated areas of responsibility that these two committees cover can produce territorial conflicts of interest and budgetary competition.

It is shameful this is not already normal practice, as was not unknown in years gone by.

Our children need supervision, security and respect for their needs as well as guidance concerning acceptable behaviour, wherever they happen to be and especially in our parks and open spaces.

-Valerie Paynter, Clarendon Road, Hove