I AM writing concerning Liddington Parish Council's narrow minded reaction to the youth of their parish who have worked hard to raise money for a skate ramp to be built in their village.

It astonished me to read that Coun Warren states: "Skateboarding does attract the wrong kind of people."

What research has this councillor done to make this comment? And what type of people does skateboarding attract? It is really discriminative to the young people of Liddington to make such comments.

I have been working with skateboarders and their culture for the past few years and can tell Coun Warren that the skaters I have had the pleasure to meet, both in UK and abroad, are highly skilled sportsmen and women, who choose to pursue their sport.

If you read reports from the police and other research, you will discover that if youths have something to do or focus on there is much less chance of them becoming the anti-social people that we read about on a daily basis.

I take my hat off to the youngsters of Liddington, who have tried to do the right thing and get equipment for their village.

The comment from the youth that their age group is not catered for is correct. Once children have finished with roundabouts and swings, what else is there for them?

I would like to know what research the parish council has done. Have they contacted other councils who have had the initiative to install such facilities?

Coun Warren, who apparently 'has lived in the village for 40 years', should take a closer look at what these youngsters need. In other villages where skate facilities have been put in place, the police have been surprised at the lower anti-social crime rate in these areas. Please do not cast every young person who skateboards as the 'wrong kind'.

Eric Smith

Haydon Wick