SIR - At last the truth is out regarding the fence at Perdiswell. I refer to the letter from Council F D Lankester (Worcester News, April 22).

He states the planting at Perdiswell is a health and safety issue. The fencing is not for the reason as stated on the posters attached to the fence, ie. fencing to protect sapling trees from rabbits - it is as everyone knows, to keep the general public off the golf course.

It would appear the council's view is that the public open space is for the use of anyone as long as they have a set of golf clubs. The short cut pathway, which Councillor Lankester says was closed when the golf course was built, is still heavily used, mainly by students of Elgar Technical College and people travelling to and from work.

The reason for its continued use is obvious. It is because it's the most direct route between the track off Droitwich Road and Friesland Close.

The stone-surfaced pathway directs people along a route almost twice the distance of the direct route, which would take twice the time to travel. Furthermore, as stated by a previous correspondent, the stone-pathway route is through an isolated area of low-lying wooded area of land by Barbourne Brook. Women and children would be more at risk from attack using this route rather than the open short direct route. Surely this is a health and safety issue that should have been taken into account? The golf course, when designed and built, should have taken into consideration the existing users of the park and their health and safety.

Hundreds of people use the open green space. It is not just for a few hours a week to play golf.

PETER YEOMANS,

Worcester.