This is evidently the view of Friends of Graves Park who are pushing forward with an application for a Big Lottery grant for restoration of the centre portion of Norton Nursery. The grant could be as much as £250,000 and would go a long way to landscaping and planting trees on the entire site. The project would border the ecology zone which is nearing completion following a £10,000 Lottery grant.

Friends of Graves Park are a charity and qualify for many grants not normally available to city councils. It is hoped the new administration will work more closely with the friends for the mutual benefit of the park and its users. It is certainly better than funding all these projects from the council tax.
Liz Machin, Crookes

I HAVE been following the debate regarding St Luke's/Graves Park with much interest.

I have not noticed any mention of the fact that at present, St Luke's stands on one of the prime building land sites in Sheffield.

How many houses/flats could be built on this site and how much money would be raised? Who owns the land and where would the money go? I'm sure that was one of the first considerations of Andrew Coombe and the council.

The petitions are open to question too. Church members and leisure society members have been approached and asked to sign and forward the petition by email or by hand to all their contacts.

Lots of people have seen 'St Luke's' and signed, although unaware of the circumstances, or politics, of the subject.
Name and address supplied
I WAS born 77 years ago at Woodseats. I lived there until I was in my teens. I had some wonderful times in Graves Park and there is not another park anywhere like it.

To build a hospital there is stupid. A hospital is for peace and quiet while you rest, a park is for playing games and enjoying yourself. It was also left for the people of Sheffield to enjoy.

While I have all due respect for St Luke's, playing on the sympathy vote is not going to work. Do not use the park as a building site, as you will ruin what is a lovely park.
Mrs M Frost, Lindsay Avenue, Sheffield S5

REGARDING the proposed building of a new hospice for St Luke's. I am amazed that no one appears to have mentioned the old Ecclesall Library.

When we moved to this area, my understanding was the library had been given to the city by the Graves Trust. We lost our library and got a pub in its place. The pub was very nice but did not last and now we have the 'ski village' apartments which are already looking very tired.

I think if St Luke's does not get the go ahead for the Norton nurseries site, you may get flats there too.
Janet Pix, Peveril Road, Sheffield 11