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Cash-strapped council in bid to change parks
CASH-STRAPPED South Ribble Borough Council is changing the way it runs its award-winning parks in a bid to save £250,000.
Civic leaders have denied they're making anyone redundant but admit that existing roles will be scrapped.
As part of the far-reaching restructure, park wardens will be handed greater powers, including the right to fine people who drop litter, fly-tip or fail to clean up after dogs.
Parks affected will include Worden Park in Leyland, Hurst Grange Park in Higher Penwortham, Withy Grove Park in Bamber Bridge and Longton Brickcroft Nature Reserve in Longton.
Council leader Margaret Smith said: "We are reorganising teams, there are no redundancies. It is a case of everyone having different roles.
Some of them will have different designations in the role."
Three new areas will be created under the scheme, with teams being split up into Leyland town; Bamber Bridge and Central; and the Western Parishes and Penwortham area.
The leader said the decision would give wardens a clearer knowledge of what their role entails - although it has caused some upset with employees.
Coun Smith added: "It makes it a much easier way of people seeing where their role is and, quite frankly, it will save us 250,000."
Coun Smith added 'back office' positions that were no longer needed had been scrapped to generate savings.
She said: "In addition to continuing to maintain our current high standards of service, the new teams will be able to do more on what residents have told us are important to them."
But opposition leaders claim the cuts will affect services.
Labour leader Coun Matthew Tomlinson, said: "Frankly, parks are one of the few areas we still have control over and that gives us some concern.
"You can shave and shave, but eventually it's going to get to a stage when it will start to hurt."
What do you think? Email charlotte.wareing@lep.co.uk or call 01257 264911.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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