Dog walker shocked to see council sports pitches being marked out during lockdown

A local dog walker was shocked to see Warrington Borough Council sports pitches being cut and marked out with white lines, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.
With all sport currently suspended and no sign of it returning any time soon, John Hopkins, couldn’t help but notice the work being carried out on Victoria Park and Loushers Lane.
“It looked like everything was being prepared for a new season to start,” he said. “The lines were painted and then a tractor cut the grass.”
Mr Hopkins added: “The obvious question is why? I appreciate this has probably been planned months in advance but surely these plans could have been changed and the workers could have been given more important jobs?

Warrington South MP Andy Carter, who represents the areas involved, commented: “I want to pay a huge tribute to the council teams who are working so hard in frontline service but this really shouldn’t be happening – earlier this week councillors were telling us council staff were stretched and they were having to reduce service – yet they’ve still got teams out painting lines on pitches!
“People in Warrington really want to be certain every effort is going into supporting families and businesses affected by COVID-19 and painting lines on a pitch isn’t high on the priority list for many, I am quite sure.”
A Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: “Our parks will always need some degree of maintenance to make them usable. Whilst the level of support for our parks and green spaces is being scaled back, we are still committed to making sure our residents can take advantage of them, as long as they are social distancing appropriately and adhering to the clear government guidance.
“We are also ensuring that our key community facilities, like playing pitches, are being maintained, whilst out preserving the rest of our parks and spaces for people to enjoy sensibly. We normally paint our pitches alongside cutting them, but given the government’s most recent lockdown extension announcement, we will not be continuing to do so.
“We are, however, committed to cutting the grass at our parks and green spaces so that people can continue to enjoy them in line with the national guidance.”