AT the last meeting of Lydbrook Parish Council the news was received that the annual meeting for the Joy's Green Recreation Ground had not received enough interest to set up another committee, despite there being a leaflet telling of the meeting hand delivered to every household.

This is extremely demoralising for those who have worked hard on the committee, despite none of them having children who would benefit from the improvement of the ground, and for the parish council who spent considerable time on getting the ground under their control so that improvements might take place.

During this process they were continually badgered by local residents wishing to know what was going to be done to the area as there was nowhere for the children to play, the clerk even receiving irate phone calls at home on the subject. One of the main concerns is getting the area fenced. This will take considerable money, and the committee despite having worked hard to raise money realised that the only real hope of getting this done quickly was a grant, for which purpose an application was made to the Lottery Commission. One of their provisos is that you have the backing of the community. In view of recent events this does not seem to be the case in this instance, which is extremely demoralising for those who have been willing to put time and and effort into this project.

The ground has now reverted back to just the parish council with no management committee which means that it will not have the time and effort able to be spent on it as it did have through the efforts of those individuals.

To add insult to injury some extremely unpleasant rumours have been spread about regarding the funds which have been raised. All financial accounts were taken to the last meeting of the parish council and should anyone wish to inspect them they will also be taken to the next meeting.

It is unbelievable that such accusations should be made when people have worked so hard for nothing more than the pleasure of doing something for the community, and a real blow to those individuals when the thanks they get is slur cast upon their character by the very people they are trying to benefit. – L. Wakefield, clerk, Lydbrook Parish Council.