PUTTING up no-drinking signs in Workman Gardens, Evesham, though it may seem sensible, is the wrong thing to do.

For most people visiting a town these signs may just as well say, 'This park is full of scary people; if you value your lives leave now!'.

Believe me, I saw this when I grew up in Coventry, the town centre slowly became a people-free desert in the evening, and as it did the only people left were the people we didn’t want so more signs went up and more businesses closed or put up anti-vandal shutters making the place feel even less welcoming. It was one of those vicious circles.

I have walked through Evesham in the evening a few times recently and it already has the beginnings of that same feeling of emptiness bordering on threatening.

As the notices are useless without enforcement it is doubtful that they will have any impact on the people we hope to deter.

It may be that the residents on Waterside would benefit from a people-free desert in the park, but the town will not.

What is required is a new way of dealing with these things positively; we need people to use the moorings, to visit the town and to recommend it to others.

Here are some suggestions but they do require a willingness to take a different view.

Grant a licence or licences to the restaurants and hotels on Waterside to work together putting outside eating facilities in the park. It is not ideal as there is road in the way, but a bit of innovative thinking can solve that. Maybe the town can fund the tables and the restaurants look after them. Not a commitment but an opportunity.

Make Waterside and the lower part of Port Street traffic-free for a few weekends in the year; certainly all bank holidays and on the weekends of our festivals. Allow a street market and outside seating on these weekends.

Look at allowing a local entrepreneur to open a cafe/bar on the park (a modern lightweight building that could be moved if it fails) possibly a joint effort with the businesses already there (see above).

Let’s put some pressure on businesses to look after their patch (look outside Marilyn's, at all the discarded food and fag ends) and in return allow more freedom to use the open spaces.

The success of the arts centre and the Regal show we have people with great ideas. Maybe a performance area in the gardens for busking, local am-dram outside performances coordinated by one or both of these groups or another local group; publicity for upcoming events etc.

An elegant footbridge joining the two parks. More expensive, but not impossible. In many towns there have been small bits of infrastructure raised through public subscription. Maybe this is one of those things.

All of these things require a partnership between the council and the people. I see the council’s role as the enabler and the people's to provide the ideas and drive.

If we bring people to the park the problem will recede into the background. It’s not easy in a recession to keep a town alive but it is possible.

We have a great programme of events throughout the year let’s build on them. Let’s use the park.

Colin Edwards

Evesham