FURIOUS skateboarders have hit back at claims that a proposed games area would bring misery to Haydon Wick.

An anonymous resident has been dropping leaflets through letterboxes in the area warning that if the planned multi-sports facility at Haydonleigh Primary School goes ahead the value of nearby properties could drop.

"Every one of you is likely to be affected," it reads.

"If you do not want every possibility of litter in your gardens and on your streets and open spaces, noise, drunkenness, drugs, graffiti, damage and misery, then do not leave it to others."

It then gives the addresses of Swindon councillor David Renard and Haydon Parish Council chairman Richard Hailstone, both supporters of the project, urging residents to make personal visits.

Haydon skaters said the leaflet is insulting and based on ignorance.

Simon Byrne, 15, said: "We're not going to drink or take drugs we don't do that. We just want to have fun on our skateboards."

Dean Holden, 17, said: "I think this is a guy who hasn't got the guts to put his name on the letter, someone who hasn't really thought about what we're like."

He pointed to the success of a skate competition held at the former railway museum last month, which involved about 100 local skaters.

"If he had been there he would have seen what a good atmosphere there was," said Dean.

Andy Otner, 16, said: "This person hasn't even seen us before and he is saying all this stuff about us.

"They think all of us are out to cause trouble but it's only a small minority."

He added that the Haydonleigh project would help move skaters away from car parks and roads to somewhere safe.

Coun Renard (Con, Haydon Wick) backed the skaters and said the person behind the leaflet was distorting the facts.

"They are unable to accept that an overwhelming number of people across the whole community welcome this development," he said.

Steve Wright, of Cloudberry Road, one of the Haydon Wick residents who received a leaflet through his letterbox, said it seemed to have been designed to intimidate people into opposing the games area.

He said he was angry and disgusted.

Eric Smith, a leading member of the Swindon Community Sk8 Project, which wants an indoor facility in the town, said the leaflet was scaremongering.

"This letter portrayed the skateboarders as drunken, drug-taking litterbugs, and that is outrageous they're a great bunch of people," he said. "If they took time out and spoke to the kids they would realise they aren't the thugs they are portrayed to be in this letter."

The Haydonleigh project, costing £124,000, is a joint effort between the school and Haydon Wick Parish Council.

The council and Asda Wal-Mart are putting up £25,000 each, with the rest due to come from the National Lottery's New Opportunities Fund.

Planning permission has already been granted and it is hoped the facility, which will include a kick-about area, basketball hoops and three pieces of skateboarding furniture, will be open by September. Sited in the school grounds, it will open from 5pm to 9pm each night and will be locked at all other times.

Andy Tate