Anger at park bike ban

Sasha Stewart, from Lyndhurst Road, claims there will be nowhere for local children to cycle or learn how to ride if cycling, skateboarding and riding scooters is restricted to only the skateboard area in Homefield Park and banned in all other areas.

The council has drafted a new set of byelaws which only allows cycling on roads and cycle paths in the town and bans skateboarding, roller skating and other "self propelled vehicles" from everywhere else, except the Homefield Park skatepark.

Mrs Stewart, a mum of three, told the Herald this week: "My children are so disappointed. My kids have learned to ride in that park. There is just nowhere else for them to ride - it's too dangerous to allow them to go on the roads."

Her three children, Milo, four, Oscar, 10 and Josh, 13, now face not being able to use their bikes during the summer holidays if the ban comes into force.

"There is just no way I would allow them to go into the skatepark area of Homefield Park and we don't have cycle lanes on the road yet.I know they are coming but it's too dangerous to let children ride on the road."

Mrs Stewart has said she will organise a petition in protest at the plans and is calling on other mums and residents to support her.

She wants people to write to the council voicing their opposition.

A new action group, based at the former 3TO nightclub in Chapel Road, has also organised a protest to take place on Saturday.

The group is asking people to join them with their skateboards, bikes and scooters to ride through the town and collect signatures on a petition as they go.

They will be meeting at the former nightclub at noon.