after reading the letting in the echo about skateboards and rollerblades at the warf i decided to replyed with and e-mail. Thius is what i got back.

"Dear Chris
Many thanks for your e-mail.
We'd like to run a bigger story on your efforts for a skateboarding park
- as well as featuring your reply in the letters' section

Could you send me a contact number please -  and maybe a reporter could
chat to you?

Thanks
Andy Rush
echo editor"

mayby we could get Colin andf Julian there as well?

Hey great minds Chris.... good job

I wrote to them as well...

Below is my effort

BTW the guy to email is andy_Rush@MRN.co.uk

Later

Joolz


================================

In reply to Miss T Wright Re Skateboarding 'vandals' in the Loughborough Echo today (21 Feb)

As someone who has been a skateboarder for nearly thirty years, travels all over the country to various skate-spots and has met hundreds of skaters over the years I feel I have some experience on the subject. To be clear from the outset, I am not condoning vandalism or antisocial behavior in any way, but if facilities are not provided then skaters will use 'the streets'. I am afraid that this is a 'fact of life'. You wont stop skaters skating!

So what do we do to make this safe for all?

Well, I agree with Miss Wrights' premise that there should be a local facility, especially when you consider the 'sporting' ties this town has and the fact that skateboarding is one of the most popular sports on the planet!

Incidentally, some enlightened Councils have provided World Class facilities so good that they create 'skate tourism' and act as a draw for people from around the country and beyond (Saffron Waldron for example. Ever been there? No, nor had I until they built the skatepark. Clithero, Dartford, Hayle and even our 'local' Burton! I could go on)

Unfortunately, at present, there are no 'real' facilities within Charnwood (we do have a few examples of the footballing equivalent of a concrete pitch set on steep hill ). However, a dedicated group of local skaters and representatives from the Council are working very hard to change this. To date we have around a third of the money towards enabling us to build a 'real' skatepark in Loughborough (for information, none of this money has come from our Council Taxes).

We need help to create a great facility that Loughborough can be proud of and that addresses the, reasonable, concerns of the general public.

We intend our facility to be safe and all inclusive, addressing the needs of Skaters, BMX, In-Line and Parkour users.

If anyone would like to help raise further funds or get involved in any way then we would welcome them with open arms. We are not 'Vandals' and neredowells. Shock-horror, some of us even have kids and pay Council Tax!

Why not come and speak to us at our next meeting? Details of which can be found at www.lufbra-skatepark.co.uk

Please get involved.  

--Last edited by joolz on 2008-02-22 09:44:20 --

yea i read your letter at the last meeting mine isn't quite as long as that tho  

"In response to Miss T Wrights letter about damage and vandalism to The Warf. Yes ther is a skate park in Southfeilds park but as skateboarder we don't there skate becasue of the state of the ramps that are vandalised and ruined by other Youths who don't skate, so insted we skate other obsticles around the town, the warf being one of them as there is a small set of stairs, but i don't see how skating a set of stairs causes damage to them. yes rocking a moored boat is out of order but this was probable by the younger skateboards.not by "every skateboarder and rollerblader in loughbnorough." We are currently in the process of getting a new park bult but this will not be for at least 6 months..We are currently haveing mettings with council around every 2 weeks and have been given £60,000 by them and we are applying from grants elsewere. iI would like to invite Miss T wright and other members of the loughborough community who feel ether that we are a problem or can help out in anyway to these meetings if they wish to help in our project, the website is http://www.lufbra-skatepark.co.uk/

Chris Tyler, Skateboarder of loughborough."

same general jist tho.

Nice one Chris

Top man    

I think my letter also got published in the same edition.

Can you keep us updated on the involvement of the echo - they seem to be really behind us. A useful contact indeed - good work boys.

Perhaps if we get a jam or fund raising of some kind organised, they might agree to print the flyer the week before or something??

Good luck

Chris