SERIOUS concerns have been raised about the state of Thurrock’s parks, playgrounds and playing fields after it emerged the number of council gardeners would be slashed.

A report, found online, has revealed 42 of 94 maintenance workers will go by the end of next year.

The report even goes as far as to admit the move could see an increase in vandalism and flytipping, while accepting some children will lose access to play areas.

Other consequences, highlighted in the dossier, are parks may become less attractive to residents, and that grass and shrub areas will become “overgrown and tired looking”.

The document, called “Shaping the Council 2015-16 and beyond: Savings Business Case”, also outlined a risk of injury to the public from the overgrown spaces and cycle paths.

However, the council hopes the move will save £1.3million. Peter Saunders, of the Chadwell St Mary Community Forum, said: “Young children using these areas could be put at risk.

“We don’t get a lot of council attention anyway in Chadwell St Mary – if there is reduced council attention, there will be risks of increased criminal behaviour like illegal biking and vandalism and children using these areas could get hurt. This is really bad news.”

Hazel Wybrow, 65, of Orsett High Road, who works as a volunteer with wild spaces in the borough, said: “There’s enough of a problem with flytipping at the moment as it is, there is such a lot of rubbish across Thurrock.

“Having more will only create serious problems.”

Terry Piccolo, of the Stanfordle- Hope Community Forum, added: “We’re not happy about it at all. We already do a lot voluntarily to keep up the look of our borough.

“The community would not be able to take over all the work of the council or keep it up to the standard that trained staff keep it to.”

A Thurrock Council spokesman confirmed the report’s contents.

He said: “The number of staff dedicated to the grounds maintenance function is being reduced and frequencies of services, such as grass cutting, will inevitably be affected.

“The front-line workforce is being organised into four multiskilled teams located across the borough.

“Reductions will not all take place in the current financial year because the savings target is phased in over a two-year period.”