STAR readers have been reacting to the news of St Helens Council's decision to cut the number of park rangers for the borough to four.

The service, which has been subject to previous reductions, was culled further after a delegated executive decision was made in March.

The decision has led to a petition being set up by park volunteer groups, with concerns the cuts will have a devastating impact on the borough’s parks.

Secretary of the Friends of Taylor Park Peter Yates said the move would "push it over the edge" resulting in "serious deterioration of the parks".

There was also been criticism of the cull being enforced by a delegated executive decision.

“They’re not asking the public what they want and have gone ahead and done this in a slightly underhand way," added Peter.

“It was an ‘exempt’ decision which means no details of the saving arising, what options and alternatives had been considered, what plans to minimise the negative impact were considered or what implications on the people and services in the borough would be."

A St Helens Council spokesperson said with savings of £2.23m needed to be found from the environmental services budget during 2017/18, as a non-statutory service, a delegated executive decision was made to reduce the number of park rangers, without the need of forced redundancies.

Cabinet member for green, smart and sustainable borough, Cllr Seve Gomez-Aspron stated the decision was "forced" on the authority by the government’s austerity policy.

There was a largely negative response online an via social media from readers to the decision.

Scott Taylor said: "Taylor and Sherdley park were lovely 25 years ago. St Helens council should be ashamed of themselves".

Stuart Henderson added: "Disgraceful! The public land being neglected and ignored".

Alan Holland wrote: "Such a shame to see our great parks in the state they are in recently. Sherdley Park looked like a landfill site by the end of the school Easter holidays! It'd help if people didn't leave their rubbish lying around everywhere in the first place of course".

Another Star reader said "I am sick to death of hearing that word 'austerity' banded about as an excuse for everything St Helens Council are doing.

"Yes, there needs to be cuts, yes, we need to tighten our belts, but it needs to be done with transparency, open discussion. Not behind closed doors, with no minutes, but input from St Helens people.

"It needs to be done with good management decisions for the future of St Helens.

"We have kids burning bandstands, nests and riding bikes around the parks - no pride, no care, it will get worse with less rangers and fewer places to go and as our area deteriorates, so will our community."