YORK: Yobs damage BMX bike park

Yobs damage BMX bike park

A BIKE park in a York village may have to be bulldozed after vandals caused thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Sian Wiseman, left, of City of York Council,

Earswick Parish Council chairman Bill Gambold

and Coun Pat Norman, survey the missing

fencing at Earswick BMX park

Vandals have stolen more than £2,000 worth of fencing from Earswick village BMX track and now parish council chairman Bill Gambold claims its insurance may be invalidated because of it, causing the park to close.

The park, which was visited by Tory leader David Cameron earlier this year, was first started in 2005 when a group of village youths met with members of the parish council and requested clearance to construct a BMX jump course.
The council assigned an area of land for the course and the boys and their parents set out to build it.

Local building contractor Persimmon agreed to provide a digger and driver for a day to help with the project.
The police, youth workers and city council are said to be impressed by the community project.
advertisement

Coun Gambold said: "It was a real mark of all sides of the community pulling together to do something good for the youths who really wanted it.
"Now this vandalism means we might have to get the bulldozers in unless we can find the money from somewhere to carry out the necessary repairs.

"There is a problem that the BMX track attracts youths from adjacent villages and so we have recently suffered some vandalism.
"Nevertheless, we encourage the village youths to control the site and discourage such actions. Unfortunately, since April 2007, the vandalism incidents have got worse - picnic tables and the litter bin have been destroyed and parts of the fencing removed and burned.

"Trees within the track area have been set alight or had their bark removed.
"On Monday, about a third of the fencing was removed and apparently stolen."
Mr Gambold said the BMX track was an excellent example of a successful community project but it is being threatened by mindless vandalism.
He said Earswick Parish Council is keen to provide facilities for the youths of the village and it is frustrating that vandals - who appear to come from adjacent villages seem to be determined to destroy these facilities.
A spokesman for York Police said: "We are currently investigating this incident and will be speaking to the community to try and find out what's happened.
"We would welcome calls from members of the public on 0845 6060247 with any information."