Some months ago in the Evesham Journal I read an article about a young boy who suggested that Evesham needed a skate park. At the time I just agreed and didn't do anything about it.

However since then my own seven year old boy has outgrown the play park facilities and when we go to the park and use the path between Abbey Park and the Corporation Meadow to either skateboard, scooter or cycle we are not very often, but sometimes, glared at by pedestrians.

We are responsible parents and always accompany our son and if any one queried why we use the park in such a way we would explain that although Evesham has a beautiful park and lovely meadow it has no facilities for seven to 16 year-olds.

We are happy to walk to the park, however, it is another question in having to get into the car and drive 15 miles to either Stratford or Cheltenham to use the purpose built skate parks.

We firmly believe that the boating and paddling pool in Abbey Park are a continual eyesore and a waste of space.

Years ago when we were children they were fine and maintained but times and children have changed.

An investment in converting them into skate areas would serve more than one purpose, it would bring more people into town, it would give children a designated area to play in and would clear away the unsightly mess that is there now.

I know that this letter will cause consternation amongst certain areas of the towns and the arguments will come flooding back about graffiti and misuse, but perhaps if they opened their eyes and actually gave instead of criticising they might understand that blading and boarding are terms of self -expression and so too is good graffiti, that in itsself is an art form.

I am not a crusading leftie, just a local mother who has a young son amd who just wants the best for all of the local children because they are not all horrors or yobs.

Tracey Hewlett

via e-mail