A recent APSE opinion poll, conducted by Survation, exploring public opinion on neighbourhood services, found that yet again, the public gives parks the highest satisfaction ratings among all local government services. We also know that parks are one of the hardest hit services as a result of austerity, with many facing an uncertain future.

Anyone who reads The MJ is well versed in the graph of doom scenario and the squeeze it creates on non-statutory services. The £3bn of cuts that have hit England's neighbourhood services are playing out harshly on the average parks services and for the most deprived areas the impact of austerity is felt all the more harshly.