NEW CROSS: Mums campaign for skateboarding park (From News Shopper)

NEW CROSS: Mums campaign for skateboarding park

10:00am Tuesday 9th March 2010

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FOUR mums are campaigning for a skateboarding park to stop their sons hanging around the streets.

Sophie Beswick, Imogen Slater, Sarah Hews and Jacqui Shimidzu formed Skate Park Action Group in October last year after residents complained about their sons skating in the street.

Between them they have 10 boys aged between 10 and 14.

Mrs Beswick has two sons, Oliver aged 11 and Billy aged 14, who are desperate for a place to skate.

The 49-year-old said: “Our boys are skating nearly every day so they skate on the streets because there’s no where else to go.

“The mothers got together to do something about it.”

The mums have applied for a £60,000 grant from Lewisham Council for a skate and bike park to be built in Telegraph Hill, New Cross.

They took their campaign to their local assembly in October last year and were given £1,000 from the Locality Fund to hold a consultation last month.

More than 150 people attended the event which had mobile skate ramps and a tent with information about their plans.

Mrs Beswick of Waller Road, New Cross, said: “We're grateful for the support from the Telegraph Hill Assembly and the money from the Locality Fund with which we have been able to put together this consultation event.

“We truly hope with all this local support we are a step further towards realising our goal of having our very own skate park in Telegraph Hill for all to enjoy for many years to come.”

The group must write a report with the information they gathered at the consultation for the next park user meeting.

It will be held on March 22 from 8pm at Telegraph Hill Centre on Kitto Road.

For more information email skateparkactiongroup@hotmail.co.uk

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