What's wrong with our youngsters ?

If you take the number of breakages at The Railings - Gill Banks as a measure -

Very little.
For a group that is labelled "mindless, unthinking, reckless and boisterous" they come away with a lot of brownie points.

What's wrong with our councillors and one or two adults who should know better ?

If you take the removal of the picnic tables at the same location as a measure -

Quite a lot.
For a group that has been the responsibility of guiding our society, their knee jerk reaction of "remove those tables immediately - they're on our Town Lands Trust Land" has much about it that should be questioned. These are people who should have a reputation for consultative decisions made in the interests of the majority.

As far as one can determine, the order to remove the tables has come about because some young people were making a lot of noise there recently at around midnight. 

Rather than adopt the time honoured solution of going and talking to the boisterous end-of-term, don't-like-the-deputy-head-up-the-road youngsters  which the police are normally very good at, David Parratt's attention was drawn to the behaviour.

His immediate reaction, without consulting other neighbours or the majority of local people, was to demand that the tables be removed. This ignored the great pleasure given by these picnic tables during the daytime, enjoyed by large numbers of the public as well as the youngsters themselves.

There is also the suspicion that otherwise responsible adults have taken to throwing one or the tables in the beck. This arises from the fact that this happened on Friday at between 7 and 8 am, not a time when youngsters were seen to be up and about and yet one when said adult was seen inspecting the table moments before. The plot thickens!

Fortunately another neighbour with land immediately adjacent to the original site for the tables sees things very differently. He and his family is very sympathetic to the young people who have used this location to gather for several generations in the past. 

Assisted by friends, his land is now being altered so as to provide an alternative site for one picnic table in what should be very attractive surroundings.

If you have views on the issue, comment here or email the councillors involved; they represent the interests of The Town Lands Trust who own the land in question:

• Pat Jones
• Margaret Hornby
• Jan Hancock
• Janette Jenkinson

or deal directly with the Town Clerk, David Parratt at the Ulverston Town Council.

A question worth posing:

Cannot a good case be made for provision of a picnic area in the town for people to have snacks and chat in quiet pleasant surroundings?


The picnic tables have been donated by a group calling themselves the BUGs. The people that have renovated Mill Dam Park and are clearing Gill Banks of the invasive Himalayan Balsam.

"Let's not make war but sit down and talk"

Looks like we've the making of a talented acrobatic group here

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.

Do we expect too much?

Is it fair that we expect a team of some 20 football players and their manager to carry the responsibility of England's feelings of self esteem?

Are there other things that we could focus our expectations on?

Like supporting the activities of our local young people.

Would Carnival Day be a better focus for our support?

How about cheering the Karate Academy who are leading the Carnival Parade at the week end at short notice?




How about the successes of the Orienteering activities of Ulverston Victoria High School in their recent visit to New Zealand (Where they had an extended stay because of the Volcanic dust scare)?

Any other suggestions?

A tribute to Phil Hopwood

who died of cancer at the very beginning of this year.

He was a friend that I greatly valued.

People's personality lives after them when they die and I am very aware of his potential approval at something I've just done.

Phil greatly valued well designed equipment often made at the turn of the century. He regularly obtained and returned to their efficient working condition tools and simple machines that others were throwing out.

Poking around a skip the other day I spotted a simple tree pruner, eight foot long and enabling me to cut branches thirteen feet above ground with out a ladder.

It was totally rusted and seized up.





No longer; it's been back in action minutes after the recovery process was instigated - well sixty of them actually.

Phil would have approved . Tree pruning here I come!

I'm convinced that as the world's resources become used up and sophisticated mechanical equippment becomes unaffordable we'll be reverting to well design and made tools from the 18th century. Hang on to your treddle sowing machine that is moderately easy to repair and doesn't require electricity.

I'd love to promote employment for young people to renovate clapped out machines and furniture. It happens plenty in India and other countries. Let's look forward to it happening here in Ulverston soon!

We can start with bikes; perhaps not that old but fifty years old will be a start!

Croftlands Playing Field

It's incredible what a mess the SLDC officers have made of this project by being so manipulative in trying avoid having an honest consultation . Is this because of lack of funds? Why isn't Bishop-Rowe more involved in steering this through?

At the same time the influence of a small group of some five older, frightened, very vocal women is amazing.

They call themselves the Croftlands Community Safety Association and their influence can be very negative; for example to stop kids playing in the playing field.

Sadly they live on the edge of this field and do all they can to prevent it being used for what it's intended. They clearly have a vested interest because of their proximity to what they imagine as potential trouble - teenagers up to no good in amongst the equipment which includes having sex under the slides. They have been encouraged over a period of a few years because one of them has learnt how much noise one can make by repeated attendence at Town Council Meetings so that Councillors are wary of them and District officials are afraid to meet them head on. Bishop-Rowe I understand attends their meetings.

When I was running for County Councillor I visited every house that was adjacent to the playing field - some one hundred houses and 95% of the people wanted the kids to have good playing facilities on the field , yet these women have managed to express their views with strength and stopped things going forward.

As a result the organised few with extreme views have a disproportionate influence.

The actions of this miserable group have managed to delay the provision of various facilities starting with the MUGA for over two years now. My emails with the South Lakes officials indicate the delays and behind the scenes inactivity trying to find a way round this small group.

What is needed is an open meeting with all the interested parties showing up and sorting this once and for all. Trouble is, will the silent majority stand up and say their piece and tell the frightened ladies to shut up and stop working themselves into a tiz as to what terrible things will happen if young people get together and enjoy themselves.

While I agree there is a potential problem this is not dealt with by avoiding it.

What I believe is needed is more adult participation in what happens in this area so that adults have a calming influence. Trouble is the majority are apathetic and want to bury their heads under the covers. Ideally a cafe could be opened on the parade or as an extension of the existing Community Centre which would attract even more adults to the area.

For my part I hope to bring a pottery interest to the railings around the area in the Spring of 2011 through a project at Croftlands Junior school this could become an interest shared by people of all ages as has happened in Gill Banks with the pottery on the railings and the provision of picnic tables nearby.

A good mix of people is ideal.

Roxy review

I have now talked to an increasing number of people regarding their experiences of what happens at, and in the nearby streets to, the Roxy in the early hours when they hold an event.

I have forwarded to Gary Robinson my concerns. Yet even after this, it would appear that the behaviour last Saturday night (30th May), Sunday morning, was as bad as ever.

If anyone else would like to share their views here or privately by email, they are welcome. I would especially like to hear from you if they are ready to make a signed statement.

Get yourself down to Lightburn Park

The kids are happy but now is the time, right at the beginning, to get them behaving well to all ages.

I was able to talk to the few rogues there and persuade them not to ride their bikes on the grass.

There are enough sensible kids around for an adult to have a lot of influence in guiding their behaviour in a way that is sympathetic and considerate to everyone.

Ignore this scene and the yobos will take over and we're in for a lot more trouble than if we got stuck in now.

Most of the kids are arriving by bike and hence kids from all over are attracted here.

It's a great chance for older ones to have a lot of influence by simply showing an interest and even a bit of admiration for the skills that some of them have.

Playgrounds

Richard Foster of SLDC take note.

We in Ulverston are fed up with your "play it safe" attitude.

We want to be allowed to have more "dangerous" play areas like the one being explored on BBC Breakfast this morning at the Tate Modern this week end. Here "Health and Safety has been brought down to earth with some "dangerous" play equipment.

Somewhere to go and have a bit of challenging fun - I'd love the chance!

At last we get a skateboarding park in Lightburn Park - fifteen years too late - during this time our young people have become increasingly restless.

Now concentrate on the playing field at Croftlands and improve the area in the Honeypot so that the Auction Mart and Abattoir loses it appeal to youngsters.

Norman Bishop-Row, it's time for you to be more proactive and put Ulverston on the map. You with all the other SLDC Councillors outside of Kendal are in the majority.

How come Kendal appears to get all the goodies?

Young people first

For a change.

What is the hold up with the facilities for young people?

Two things have been promised:

• A Skateboarding Park in Lightburn Park.

• A Multiple Use Games Area for Croftlands Playing Field

Neither are happening.

Two months ago the foundation for the Skateboarding Park was promised to start "in three weeks time". Still nothing.

Last September the MUGA for Croftlands was promised for the Spring.

So what is happening Councillor Norman Bishop-Rowe. This is your patch.

Are the promised funds in SLDC being diverted elsewhere?

Young people because they are less able to express themselves in a rational persuasive manner often fail to get things done for them. Yet we are all to quick to jump on them when they misbehave .

Is it the adults that are misbehaving here?

"Take you skateboards somewhere else" is often the cry.

"Where" they reply.

"Anywhere but here" is the answer.

Who's being childish?

Do we want to raise responsible young adults with initiative?

Which view do you support?

At attempt to disperse young people with high pitch sound using a device called a Mosquito by Appleby Police or

Help Create a Bright Future for Cumbria's Young People with a Penrith based charity that promotes partnerships between the community and schools using "Creative Ambassodors".

The first is funded by the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and is being used to tackle anti-social behaviour problems at an Eden sports club. The Mosquito works by emitting a high-pitched buzzing noise that causes discomfort to young ears, usually under the age of 25, but cannot be heard by adults.

Some would see this action as negative and aggravating the problem with young people and alienating them from society. It is seen as being discriminatory towards the young in the same way that the was done against the Jews or even towards old people.

Do the people in Appleby believe that it will help solve a problem ; simply move it on elsewhere; or even worse aggravate the gap between young people and those older.

EDINBURGH is set to become the first place in Scotland to ban this controversial device .

It is not known how many may be around Edinburgh, but deputy education leader David Beckett said the proposed ban would send a message to would-be buyers that it is not welcome in the Capital.

The campaign has won the support of human rights groups including Liberty, whose director, Shami Chakrabarti:

"What type of society uses a low-level sonic weapon on its children? Imagine the outcry if a device was introduced that caused blanket discomfort to people of one race or gender, rather than to our kids," she said.

“These devices are indiscriminate and target all children and young people, including babies, regardless of whether they are behaving or misbehaving,” Sir Albert Aynsley-Green, the Children's Commissioner for England told the BBC. “The use of measures such as these are simply demonising children and young people, creating a dangerous and widening divide between the young and the old.”

On the other hand Creative Ambassadors are seen by others as encouraging young people to be positive.

" The regeneration of Cumbria depends on motivating and raising the aspirations of its future workforce.

To meet the challenges of tomorrow’s world, today’s young people need creative talent, enterprising attitudes and the confidence to develop innovative ideas and practices to address the needs of the future."

To find creative practitioners around Ulverston click here - there are lots!

Which approach do you favour?

My visits to the Town Council over the past 18 months suggest that there is only one councillor that attempts to engage with young people. The rest suggest that this is someone else's business and there is no sense of urgency to see projects through.

Is it surprising that they get angry?

What are your views?

Liberty and Kent County Council are against the Mosquito

Money for words

A total of £50 will be available every month to young people, preferably still in school and living in and around Ulverston.

To get this or part of it you will need to write something about life here as you see it. The amount will depend on the content.

Everything will be totally anonymous.

You write your comment here as anon - if I publish it then I leave you the money in a public place for you to pick up eg inside a coke can behind the Coro.

To start with it will be published here but later it could be in another blog say Ulverstonblog.blogspot.com

We'll work out a system between us.

What you write must not slag someone else off but criticising what they do or don't do is OK.

As we go along we'll get a feel for what is publishable !

The first fiver could be for a few sentences. The English or the spelling are not important as long as others can understand you!

A 'story' with a photo or two will get you the 50 quid if it's interesting to others - particularly young people.

No idea how this will work but there's bound to be a way - - - somehow!

The brand new MUGA in the Honeypot

Looks good - sturdy, well made but where are the facilities for playing tennis and the like?

At the meeting in October we were promised that net games could be included - all conveniently forgotten.

Next; how about something for the skateboarders. This isn't the best location but something is needed locally for young children who should not be expected to travel unattended all the way to Lightburn Park.

Next obstacle to deal with is the provision of lighting so that the MUGA can be used in the evenings and the provision of some youth workers to encourage its use.

Let's keep the pressure on Simon Hughes and the SLDC to keep supporting and extending this facility, perhaps with something more central to the area.

This is an opportunity for Mark Wilson , the new and keen SLDC councillor to show us what he can do!

Croftlands people have a good look - this is what is planned for the Playing field on Central Drive !

Work for young people

As the credit crunch begins to bite, more and more people will be fighting for opportunities to work.

We have a dilemma.

Some older people will need to supplement pensions, but more seriously from a social viewpoint:

Young people will need work.

Older people have developed the confidence in themselves from their life of work.

Young people have not.

We need to use every opportunity to create work for these people who have been led to believe that their education will lead to satisfying work.

We need to adjust our thinking to include at least part-time work with good human contact that will be an encouragement and source of self confidence for young people.

If we don't we have a source of destructive energy that will overwhelm us. Alternatively some will turn to drugs with even greater problems.

Older people, we need to come up with ideas to work with this age group and benefit from their enthusiasm for life. Maybe some kind of voluntary work for old and young working together as a stop gap ?

Those of us with business experience could perhaps encourage and work alongside young people to gain the confidence to work part-time for themselves or with others.

Any ideas?

Neighbours working together

Kids emptied the bags from the rubbish bins onto this road.

In no time at all, the road was cleaner than it ever was.

Bring 'em on say the neighbours, we've got a word or two for those scallywags if they show up again!

Community work lurks round the corner for some teenagers ?

Pet Duck kicked to death, Oubas Hill

This behaviour from unknown people will increase in Ulverston if people in communities continue to remain so isolated.

It's no use expecting 'the authorities' to do something about it.

Now, even more so than every before, we have to work with each other to solve this behaviour by working as communities that care and exercise constraint.

The lack of concern for young people by the Councillors for the most part is deplorable.

Skate Boarding at Lightburn Park

People are naturally apprehensive about the unknown.

However this is something to be welcomed by the residents nearby.

How do I know?

Because the car park at the 'New' Health Centre in Stanley Street is about 20 yards from my front door. This is where skateboarders used to come and still do occasionally. I make them most welcome as they are the kind of kids that are great to have around.

They demonstrate a lot of desirable characteristics:

They practice their tricks over and over and over again. This determination and tenacity is a highly desirable characteristic and invariably rubs off into other walks of life.

They are kids that take risks and learn to judge what they can and cannot attempt. Stretching oneself to ones limit is character-building of the highest order.

This is not to say that they do not need some guidance from time to time. Like many people they need reminding to be considerate of other people and the things they value.

Having had to point some things out about things like leaving props about and damaging trees, I have always found them responsive.

This type of person can never be classed in the same group as the layabouts that have nothing to do other than make fun of others and be insolent.

In fact the skateboarders, when in the presence of troublemakers, could inspire the latter to take up an alternative activity that could have a positive influence on them. It certainly sets an adventurous challenge for those looking for thrills and spills.

A worthwhile alternative to the 'boy-racer' activities of spoilt kids in their parent's cars.

The town councillors haven't taken on board the message that the more skateboarding that takes place in the town, the less vandalism will exist.

The discipline of skateboarding and breaking up park benches and road signs just don't go together.

Responsible people need to take this on board. You would probably have been one of them when young if you are now an adventurous businessman or successful job-juggling housewife/mother/lawyer/teacher!

Are you ready to become a fighter !

See below!

This young woman is determined to take herself up the tennis ladder. See The Guardian Article

"Keothavong should be inside the world's top 70 when the next rankings come out but on the evidence of the way she has played at Flushing Meadows there is every likelihood that she will reach her goal of breaking into the world's top 50, possibly by the end of this season."

How about the top 30 by next year's Wimbledon - any takers - a fiver?

Born and bred in Hackney - she knows how to fight - like me, I suspect, she enjoyed a good scrap as a kid!

"Keothavong grew up playing park tennis at Hackney Downs Park and Highbury Fields. She also enjoys kickboxing . ." see Wikipedia

Here she draws the condescending comment:
"That's nice stuff - it really is beautiful"
from the American commentators at Wimbledon as Keothavong thrashes Venus Williams!

. . . Well not quite . . .


but she gives Venus a good run for her money. Now when those hard hitting shots start going in - consistently - watch out everyone! Worth a watch if you wish to empathise with someone slogging against the odds.

Now you feel ready to tackle any task . . . washing up . . . mowing the lawn . . . here you come!

Making a grind box

I've been exploring the design of these basic pieces of equipment for skateboarding. Here are the criteria - it must be:

• portable
• made from readily available materials
• flat on top
• can have a grind rail attached
• can be extended upwards

This is my basic design. The pictures below are only meant to show how the legs would be added and are not the finished design!

Here in Ulverston palettes are the most available free materials - obtained from building sites.

The design requires taking a palette nearly completely apart then reassembling and cutting wood to length

By careful positioning the wood at each end, it allows legs to be added.

To these would be added a further framework to make the legs stable - the illustration does not have this added.

I am offering workshop facilities for children - near the Health Centre - can you offer some in other parts of town?

Would you have a storage for a few palettes?

I now have ten boxes that are ready to go - just need some kids!

Grind Boxes - here they come

Very soon - all over Ulverston - I'm hoping to here the sound of hammering as young people make these very simple and highly desirable portable platforms on which to practice their tricks.

Ulverston used to be famous for Pole Vaulting as the owner of The Town Mill in Mill Street practiced to become National Champion; vaulting across the now buried Town Beck in The Gill.

Now, inspired by, Tom Bowden of Working Class Heroes, youngsters will become National Champions of Skateboarding.

These boxes can be made out of scrap wood and are ideal to help beginners develop their skills.

If you don't know what a grind box is . . . .



you soon will!