Police officers in Kings Hill have been working closely with a group of local young people on efforts to get them a skate park.

The neighbourhood policing team stepped in after concerns were raised by local residents about young people using skateboards and BMX bicycles outside the shops in Liberty Square.

Long-term approach

Officers quickly realised, however, that simply asking the young people to move on would not provide a permanent solution to the problem, so instead they decided to talk to the young people and their parents about the issue.

It became clear that there was nowhere else for young people to go and that a skate park was what they wanted, so the neighbourhood team decided to work with the community to get one.

PCSO Rose Sparrowhawk, who patrols Kings Hill, said: 'I think this would be a good idea as it would give young people somewhere to go and something to do so I’ve been working with them and talking to the parish council.'

Petition

Josh Mayhew, 18, is one of the young people who wants the facility. He is collecting a petition of names calling for a skate park at Kings Hill. There is also a Facebook page called 'give Kings Hill a skate park' which has more than 150 fans.

Josh said: 'There is a group of more than 30 BMX bikers in Kings Hill who just want somewhere to go. The benefit of having a skate park would be that it would get young people off the streets, give them somewhere to go and something to do.

'The police have been helping us and to have their support is great.'

Talks continuing

Talks with the parish council are continuing and the young people are planning to write to the Kings Hill developers, Liberty, to see if they would be willing to earmark land for the project.

Posted on: 19 November 2009