Man takes maintenance of ‘neglected’ local park into ‘own hands’ in frustration

A Sefton man has taken to cutting the grass in his local park out of “frustration”.

Local resident and independent council candidate Ian Smith said he had resorted to bringing a lawnmower to Orrell Mount Park in Litherland and cutting the grass on a football pitch himself, after people said it was causing problems for a kids community football tournament.

Mr Smith said that since moving to the area from nearby Seaforth two-and-a-half years ago he has been left frustrated with the council’s approach to the park.

The park was the centre of recent controversy after plans to create an astroturf pitch on the site met with strong local opposition and ended up being abandoned.

Local residents have been posting on social media in recent weeks about the state of the park, with one person claiming kids were struggling to play a nine a side tournament there because the grass was four inches high.

As a result, Mr Smith, who has unsuccessfully stood in local elections as an independent candidate and has aspirations to Bootle’s first independent MP, said he felt he had “no option but to take matters into my own hands.”

He said he has now mowed he grass a the playing pitch meaning youngsters can carry on with their matches and is “fed up” that a local community resources is being left “neglected.”

Mr Smith said: “Everyone keeps asking for the grass to be cut, it was four inches higher than it should have been but nobody came to sort it out so I went and got it sorted and the kids have been playing on it.”

He said he is also concerned at the state of the pavilion in the park which has been left “derelict” and has contacted the council with plans to get it renovated using in part his own money but that he is not being “listened to.”

He said that while he is aware of masterplan for the park he and other local residents fear they’re not being included in the plans for it.

Sefton Council was contacted for comment and a spokesperson said that the playing field referred to by Mr Smith is not a “designated football pitch.”

A spokesperson said: “Currently we have 45 pitches in use across the borough and we continue to work closely with the County FA and various leagues to make sure we have dedicated spaces for teams to play. This area is not a designated football pitch site and therefore is not marked, reserved or hired for use as football pitch.

“As a result, it falls within our normal parks maintenance schedule, meaning we aim to cut it on a regular basis, although this can be affected by various factors including the very wet weather we have been having over recent weeks, and the availability of staff and machinery.

“For reasons of health and safety to themselves and park users, it is important that members of the public do not use machinery on any public parks in Sefton. Anyone carrying out unauthorised work in this manner is putting themselves or the public at risk of injury.

“Following extensive public engagement, a masterplan for Orrell Mount, reflecting the wishes of local residents, was adopted in early 2023. This consultation process also led to the formation of a Friends of Orrell Mount Volunteer Group who are looking to develop and deliver events and activities, volunteering opportunities and potentially assist with funding bids in due course.”