I support Norman Bishop-Rowe

I understand from the Evening Mail that a very negative group calling themselves the Croflands Community Safety Group and led by Pat Appleton are disagreeing strongly with our councillor.

I want him to stick to his guns and have written the following:

Norman,

I think that you are right to support a BMX area on Croftlands.

When I campaigned for county council, I visited every house surrounding the playing field and in the process discussed its use.

I found that 90% of these people had the following views:

1. That young people needed somewhere to do what they found exciting.

This was Skateboarding and BMX riding. This has been demonstrated by the use of the ramp that has been well used by both in Lightburn Park.

The young people demonstrated their interest in skateboarding by using the area in front of the garages at the park side of Central drive.

This is documented on Youtube by a short video I made at the time.
Young people also congregated and became a nuisance with their skateboarding in front, but particularly behind the parade of shops on Central drive.

2. People felt that they needed somewhere nearby for their children to do this , especially those that found Lightburn Park to be a long way to go.

They felt that they wanted there children in the age range 7 to 12 to have somewhere to play that was close to home in case of trouble.

3. They were aware of  a very negative group of adults calling themselves The Croftlands Community Safety Association which I understand you know well from your visits to their meetings.

This group who live on the edges of the field, led by Pat Appleton are fearful of young people as a whole. They have had some bad experiences with youngsters attracted from Barrow to the Croftlands Community Centre and assume that all youngsters are the same. They tend to be people with no experience of children at first hand.

4. Those that have got to know the boys that practice skateboarding and BMX riding find them, on the whole, to be responsible young people. It is true that on the fringes as in Barrow skateboarding can attract louts who want to make trouble - they don't get involved other than to torment those working hard to develop their sporting skills.

I have checked with parents and teachers; they find that skateboarders  generally work hard at school and do well. Skateboarding  like any skill that requires perseverance develops determination and patience,   character traits to be encouraged . Not surprisingly exam results benefit as a result.

Thus I support you wholeheartedly in wanting to provide a facility for young people that we will encourage fun , adventure, risk taking and perseverance.

This are the qualities we want in our youth who will grow to be the leaders of the future.

Leaders we badly need in these difficult times.