A MOTHER has raised her concerns for public safety after discovering there are no designated first aiders on duty in a popular Basingstoke park.

Natalie Dishman, 31 from Popley, was enjoying the weather in Eastrop Park with her family and friends on Monday.

However, after a few hours at the park a friend noticed Natalie’s two-year-old son was having a seizure.

When the 31-year-old’s daughter ran to the nearby boating kiosk at the park she was informed there were no first aiders on the site.

Natalie said: “I was really shocked to hear that there was no one who was first aid trained at the site. Thankfully I know how to deal with these seizures and there was a lovely lady who was on the scene straight away offering support, but it could have been a lot worse.

“The park is a lovely place in the borough and with the weather improving it is only going to become busier, and there are a lot of children who are there without parents, go on the boats etc. So if they were to slip or seriously injury themselves there is no one to help.”

Natalie added she hopes this changes with the approaching summer months.

Eastrop Park is maintained by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council which confirmed the boat kiosk is run by an external company.

Interim executive director of borough services Colin Rowland said: “Our green flag-awarded Eastrop Park is a very popular destination for visitors throughout the year, with numbers peaking in the spring and summer months when visitors come to enjoy the paddling pool and boating lakes.

“The park is public open space and open for people to enjoy all day, every day just like our other 150 play parks around the borough.

“We have a team that work from Eastrop Park who are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the park including clearing litter, cleaning the toilets and carrying out regular water checks on the paddling pool water. This team also maintains War Memorial Park and other nearby areas, therefore is not on site all of the time.

“It is upsetting to hear of anyone in distress at our parks but we would urge people in situations where emergency assistance is required to call the appropriate emergency service immediately.”