Walter Fleet, of Mount Boone Lane, Dartmouth, writes:

Don Pengelly is quite right to draw attention to the state, and I would add misuse, of Coron­ation Park, Chronicle, July 1.

Construction of the park started in 1930 following a ­parliamentary act that was necessary before a tidal area could be reclaimed. It was ­completed in 1935, but it was another two years before it was given its present name, as the council could not agree until the Coronation saved the day.

At the Government inquiry into closing the area, the then mayor was asked by the chairman what it was to be used for. He replied that it was to be a recreation area for the use of the people of Dartmouth, and this is written into the act.

It was not until the build-up to D-Day that the Americans arrived and the park was turned into a maintenance depot.

If the newly created boat park was for the use of Dartmouth residents only, that may possibly come within the terms of the act, but not by ­anyone prepared to pay South Hams Council for the privilege. Similarly, the accommodation that was built as changing rooms, but is now used by the RNLI, is in completely the wrong place and the source of much of the damage to the park.

Can the council tell us why so many manholes and covers were allowed to be located in the grass playing area, ­particularly at the southern end of the park? And who gave ­permission for the large, four-lid entrance to the sewage ­tunnel to be located way out in the grass, when it could have been on the edge, or even half in, the border?

Also included in the same parliamentary act is the right to close the embankment road for the regatta and other events in Royal Avenue Gardens, with another part dealing with the access and maintenance of ­communal paths to dwellings.

We need to be vigilant – it would not take much for South Hams to argue for a change of use and sell it off. It was not too long ago that it had some money to spend on three areas of the park. Resurfacing the tennis courts, upgrading the children’s play area and restoring the other areas. The first two have been done – when can we expect the third?