I TOOK a sad step back more than 40 years on Friday. I popped into Westleigh Park where I spent hundreds of happy days of my childhood -- and shock, horror -- where has it gone?

It's still a green leisure site of sorts, but the central veranda, tennis courts, flower beds, bowling and putting greens have long gone.

All there is now is an eye-shaped seating area near the Isherwood Street entrance, a swing with two tyres in a sandy pit and a little hut-type thing with no sides, a kickerboard and many unused litter bins.

It lacked the life and love that went into it when I was small -- thanks to the loss of parkies I suppose.

Speaking to a couple of people walking their dogs they told me it is no wonder there's nothing there any more.

Anything the council puts in gets burned down, and youngsters can't use the sandy areas because of a fear of buried hypodermic needles.

What a sad life people lead today when they have to spoil others' enjoyment.

Wallowing in my disappointment I ambled down to the nearby Shaky Bridge -- another haunt of the past.

Recollections were of fast flowing water and stream jumping, and today the brook is a lot cleaner, higher and wider than my memory allows.

But there is also evidence of today's uncaring society -- it contained a supermarket trolley and a big open golf umbrella.

I'm only glad I was lucky enough to enjoy the area when it was a haven for both infants and pensioners playing together.

It's sickening that a rotten few can take away the enjoyment of the masses. I'm really glad I'm not a child of today, being kept cooped up with parents fearing paedophiles, druggies and muggers.

Things are certainly not getting better -- or are they? What do you think?