A DISGRUNTLED pensioner has sent Bromsgrove council a 24-page dossier highlighting the “shocking” state of Sanders Park.

Elizabeth Cooke has compiled a report which photographs issues at Sanders Park, and compared them to green spaces which are run by Wychavon District Council in Droitwich.

Titled “Bromsgrove District Council – A Sorry Story”, the report includes pictures of a “ghastly” broken bench and walking paths that are “covered in inches deep mud”.

She blasts the condition of the Holocaust Memorial as “disrespectful” as it is “full of weeds”, and claims the duck pond is “so silted up with bird residue that birds are almost walking on water”.

Ms Cooke, 78, who took three months to build the report, said: “I have taken a lot of time and trouble to compile this portfolio because I love Bromsgrove and it has been my home for 16 years.

“But I am mortified to see how the park has deteriorated and is now looking very, very sad and unloved, messy and uncared for.

“If smaller authorities such as Stourport, Bewdley, Kinver, Studley, Droitwich and many more can manage to squeeze a few flowers for the park and for the naked High Street, it is hard to understand why a wealthy council cannot make more of an effort to make Bromsgrove more welcoming.

"Shocking is the right word."

Friend Sherrie Kynaston, 58, who supports Elizabeth’s report, said: “I do not exaggerate when I say it breaks my heart to see such a wonderful space fall from grace due to neglect and deterioration when simple steps could make all the difference.

“Fundamentals such as grass cutting, shrub trimming, benches and flowering plants are, and always have been, at the heart of Sanders Park.

“Yes there would be a cost implication but it would not break the bank.”

The council say many of the photographs were taken before pre-planned work, with a new dedicated parks maintenance team also recently starting.

Ray Cooke, leisure services manager, said: “I understand officers had a good discussion with the author at the time. We agreed on some good points, and showed what we’ve done about them including where work was already pending in the close season.

“For example the council had already agreed to set up a new dedicated parks maintenance team who started just after these photos were taken.

“There were also points we didn’t agree with, and it often wasn’t comparing apples to apples.

“We respect that some people want a more formal manicured approach in more areas, but Sanders Park is a large park with diverse user groups ranging from dog walkers to fitness groups to skateboarders, and we try to include something for everybody across its 16 hectares.

“We always want to improve, but reviews are overwhelmingly positive and in the same period these photos were taken 89 per cent of visitors surveyed rated the park as very good or good.

“As I say we fully agree with some of the feedback but in real terms the photos were taken right before all the post-season work started to take place.

“The vast brook improvement programme started soon afterwards, for example, and works like resurfacing car parks were already planned in – the Lickey End car park pictured is actually scheduled for this week.”