Two city parks lose prestigious green status

Leazes Park in Newcastle was not entered for the award

Two city parks have lost their Green Flag status, with volunteers claiming one site had been "left to rack and ruin".

Leazes Park and Walker Park, both in Newcastle, no longer hold the prestigious award, managed by Keep Britain Tidy.

Dawn Howe, from the Friends of Leazes Park group, said the Victorian park had been "damaged beyond repair".

Urban Green Newcastle (UGN), which manages the sites, said it was "developing management plans" for them.

It previously said it aimed to secure the status for all 33 city parks by 2026, but this year only Exhibition Park and Jesmond Dene were awarded.

Ms Howe told the Local Democracy Reporting Service people were commenting on "how disgusting" Leazes Park was and were "very angry by how it has just been left to rack and ruin".

It comes after bosses were accused of using the park as a "cash cow" after stone pillars and grass were damaged following a festival in May.

UGN said it was "continuing discussions to build strong local relationships through the development of the park management plans".

'Hundreds of complaints'

The Green Flag award scheme recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces.

Walker Labour councillor David Wood said the loss of the status for Walker Park, which was restored in 2016 in a £2.5m Heritage Lottery Fund-backed project, was "very, very sad".

It would have been the eighth consecutive year in which the park had got the award.

Fellow ward councillor John Stokel-Walker said he was not surprised after getting "hundreds of complaints".

UGN said judges had praised its cleanliness and wildflowers but "areas of opportunity" included the reopening of its cafe and tackling arson and anti-social behaviour.

A spokesperson added: "Despite all we've achieved, there is still work to do, and it will take time for the results to have an impact across the park."

Elsewhere, 13 parks in Northumberland received the Green Flag award as well as five in Sunderland.