I WAS disturbed by the response of the town clerk to your reporter's questioning about the Victoria Park skateboard area (Malvern Gazette, June 28). She said that improvements "must be done in consultation with all users, not just the people who shout the loudest."

Of course, everybody has to be consulted, but in this case the complaints are loud because the nuisance is very great. In fact there does not seem to be much evidence the town council has consulted and discussed the situation with these people at all. Their complaint is not about the skateboard park itself, but the abuse associated with it.

I wonder if the town clerk's attitude would be different if she (or her mother) was a widow living on her own, who had recently lost her husband. Would she then make that kind of crass remark? Would she like crack cocaine users pushing into her garden? Would she like to be kept from sleep night after night (almost to daybreak) by shouting, loud music and appalling behaviour? Would she like her conservatory glass broken with shotgun pellets? Would she like youngsters climbing trees to peer into her garden (there is no fence)? Would she like vodka bottles and drink cans, stones and rocks thrown over her hedge? Would she like to be in the situation where her neighbours were moving away and the value of her house is falling like a stone?

I wonder if she or her colleagues have consulted the local health service to find out the effects of this situation on the health of those living nearby? Has she talked to young mothers who are intimidated and frightened for their children in the under 12s play park, and are also anxious about the drug trading and foul language?

Why does the council not prevent cars entering the park? The police seem to be totally ineffective in tackling the problem. I wonder how often the perambulating PC really visits the park and if he has any effect at all? What right has the town council to impose this terrible torture on elderly people?

Before the skateboarding area was built - at large cost - the council was told what the result would be by many people.

The council has had plenty of time to consult all users of the park. It should also consult the residents. It has taken no effective action to help the situation. Its excuse has always seemed to be that there is no money available to take action. Its inaction could prove very costly to the ratepayers.

A skateboard park is a very hazardous play area, an accident could lead to the council being sued for a large amount. As your report noted, the council may also be sued for imposing this nuisance on the residents. There are successful precedents for this and the compensation to residents may run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.

It will be the ratepayers who have to fund first the high legal costs, and then the costs of removing the skateboard area that cost us so much money in the first place.

W G McNAMEE, Leadon Road, Malvern.