Teens' track is destroyed
YOUNGSTERS in Mitcheldean have been left devastated after the parish council bulldozed a BMX park they built with their bare hands.
Years of hard work was destroyed in less than an hour when a digger ripped out the dirt jumps because of health and safety fears.
A group of around 30 protesting teenagers armed with placards attempted to stall the digger on Tuesday afternoon but were forced to move by police.
All that remains of the dirt jumps, which were sited at Mitcheldean playing fields, is a muddy track.
Jordan Taylor, 13, from Mitcheldean said: "I feel gutted and really angry.
"We tried to stall the digger as long as possible but the police said they would arrest us if we didn't move."
Fellow BMX rider Alex Yeates, 15, who also lives in the village added: "We had a meeting with the parish council and they said they wanted to work with us but they didn't give us enough time to sort out insurance.
"We went down there every night and built the jumps ourselves using spades. They had been here for years without any problems."
The decision to flatten the track was taken after the youngsters asked the parish council for permission to hire a mini digger to create a new row of jumps for younger riders.
After looking into it the council found the children were not covered by insurance to ride at the site.
The youngsters launched a Facebook campaign and had a petition with more than 50 signatures, but to no avail.
Alex's mother Jill Yeates said: "They had put their life and soul into building those jumps and they don't know what they are going to do now.
"The great thing about the jumps was that we knew where the children were, we knew they were safe and they had built up a real team spirit."
The jumps were used by BMX riders aged from five-years-old and upwards from Mitcheldean and neighbouring villages.
And although Cinderford and Coleford town councils are looking into building skate parks, teenagers say they will have to travel to find a free dirt jump site unless a solution can be found.
Mitcheldean Parish Council said: "Following definitive advice from the parish council insurers and our solicitor it is confirmed that under no circumstances can the dirt jumping continue as this activity would make the insurance policy null and void. Therefore the parish council has no alternative but to stop the dirt jumping immediately."
To support the campaign, visit www.facebook.com/group .php?gid=144849042206110&ref= search.
40 Comments
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by matthew, cheltenham
Thursday, September 16 2010, 9:36AM
“why do people keep going on about who are the parents supposed to sue? all because your child breaks a bone while riding on jumps does mean someone will sue some one. i think it's stupid what the council have done. there are several dirt tracks that children have made themselves all over the forest of dean and every other place in the country. you don't see them flattened do you.”
by Dan (bmx rider), Mitcheldean
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 10:20PM
“Personally I think it is disgusting what the council has done. we spent ages building the jumps, in the boiling heat, in the rain, but what for? for them to be knocked down in less than an hour!? all we wanted was for the jumps to be made more suitable for younger ones (to have a track for beginners, intermediate and more experienced riders). but we got punished for trying to share our joy of dirt jumping. we will not give up and appreciate all the help and support we have been given. hopefully this will make the council realise that people like the jumps and are fully supportive of the youth enjoying the area around them, RECREATIONALLY!!”
by Jacob Tait-Bailey, Chelt
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 10:24PM
“as a bmxer from cheltenham, it saddens me to learn of these kids hard work being destroyed. i doubt the council have any idea how much time and effort goes into building jump, they need constant maintenance and often need to be rebuilt after winter. and, speaking on the behalf of all bmxers, i can assure there is no risk of anyone suing. that is not our mentality. we push ourselves and if we get injured we get injured, we then recover and do it all again.”
by Steve, Cheltenham
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 8:21PM
“Come to Cheltenham! You can get away with anything here, insurance or not. Even the posties ride their bikes illegally, and the authorities turn a blind eye. And there's some pretty impressive BMX jumps at Pittville. Or if banger racing is more your scene, we have the famous 'circuit', or you can sit in your car, revving the engine and sounding the horn just for the hell of it.
Mitcheldean seems a bit boring to me.”
by Leanne Seaborn, Mitcheldean
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 8:03PM
“Council suck! Health and safety is ruining this country! Kids had somewhere to go rather than on the streets! Soon any and every form of fun will be stopped. Increase in crime rates, I think so, and why not?!! This is how god damn backwards this country is. Carry on riding kids, infact get a mini digger and make some new ones!!!”
by Cllr Len Lawton, Newent
Monday, September 06 2010, 10:17AM
“I was very sad to read of this happening, as a Councillor from a nearby ward we try not to get involved in somebody elses case. This case i think does push the limits however. Its very easy to take the line of least resistance, rather than try to beat the Health & Safety mafia. As Councillors we are often trying to engage young people in local decisions, recognising that young people are a part of the community. Here is a good example of young people not asking for something to be done for them, all to often the case, but actually doing it for themselves. I'm sure that more could have been done to allow this to pastime to continue safely. I understand there was no alternative, sorry to disagree, there is always an alternative if the will is there.”
by Steve, Cheltenham
Sunday, September 05 2010, 8:07PM
“What a bunch of hooligans! Is this what we pay our taxes for?
As soon as they see people enjoying the fruits of their hard work, they just want to spoil it.
And they have the police in their back pocket too (obviously).”
by Dilligaf, forest
Saturday, September 04 2010, 6:48PM
“Go and play outside the homes of the parish councilors ....... QUIETLY!!”
by Anon, Mitcheldean
Friday, September 03 2010, 5:08PM
“Saying im a councillor is laughable!! Not even close. The reason i don't answer that question is because I don't know what would happen. Why would I get involved when I have no clue!! All I have said is my opinion on how this can be resolved and the kids get their jumps back. I have my opnion, you have yours. DONT ATTACK ME FOR IT!!!!”
by an observer, severnside
Friday, September 03 2010, 4:58PM
“I reckon 'Anon Mitcheldean' is a parish councillor in disguise. And interestingly he chose not to answer my question as to who sues who should a youngster injure himself in the Quarry, on Symonds Yat Rock or when falling from a tree?
'Proper channels' my foot - the youngsters would be grown up with kids of their own and still the council would do nothing. Health & Safety is just an excuse - the council do not want the park - the youngsters do. The council is wrong - the kids are right - and the only way the park will be restored is by right-thinking people in Mitcheldean taking direct action. Enough talk - just do it!”