A FURIOUS resident claims Bolton council's efforts to tackle vandals are decimating a green oasis.

Margaret Leigh is furious that lush foliage is being ripped up in Tonge Park so that vandals have no hiding place.

But parks bosses say the removal of tall shrubbery is part of an ambitious scheme to improve the neglected park.

Mrs Leigh said one of the main reasons she bought her Tonge Park Avenue home was because of its view of the park.

But, she said, the plants were being cleared and replaced by ugly industrial fencing.

The fencing is being erected around the bowling green and the play area which are particularly targeted by the vandals.

Mrs Leigh, a lecturer at Bolton Institute, said: "I don't think removing these shrubs will stop the vandalism or deter youths congregating.

"I think it is just going to make the park unsightly. People like the park because it is a bit of green in a built up area."

John Shepley, Bolton's head of landscape and client services, said the work, which began on Friday, follows extensive public consultation.

"This is a major scheme to improve the park. When work of this nature begins it can appear drastic," he said.

"We have written to residents and we believe the improvements reflect what people want. We feel we have struck the right balance."

There would be replacement planting in Tonge Park which had not seen any improvements for the past 20 years.

Mr Shepley said: "We believe we are improving the park by carrying out this work. We would not be doing it otherwise."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.