SAY
This section of the website belongs to the younger members of our community. If you are under 18 and live in Steeple or Middle Aston, we invite you to make this your very own part of the website.
Send us your stories, photos and drawings. Tell us what you are up to. What do you like about the village and what don't you like?
Also you can tell us what you'd like to see on the website. Is the name of this section "Steeple Aston Youth" (also known as SAY) a good idea - or can you think of a better one?
We already have a page here from Dr Radcliffe's primary school and one from Steeple Aston Youth Club. We're looking for lots more.
Please email editor@steepleaston.org.uk with your contributions and ideas.
Joe Tosh has emailed the editor with a request as follows:
"Hi im joe whos 12
All of my mates would like to see a proper concrete skate park some where in the village not nessesarly in the park
Thanks Joe"
Pictured here is a skate park in the village of Church Fenton in Yorkshire. This park was sponsored by the parish council and designed by local children. For more information go to www.lightmain.co.uk/showsub2.asp?topcontent=151&sub1id=152&area=lightmainleisure
If you agree with Joe perhaps you could email editor@steepleaston.org.uk too. Equally if you disagree we'd like to hear from you.
If there really is a demand for a skate park, maybe the Parish Council will consider your request Joe. Thanks for getting in touch!
Margaret Mason, Chairman of the Parish Council responds to Joe's request
She writes: "The Parish Council are always interested in comments and ideas from the youth of the village and it's good that Joe has asked the question, whether a 'proper concrete skate park' would be possible, but I'm afraid my answer is not very encouraging.
"Back in 2005 when we first started thinking about how we could improve the facilities for the young in the village a proposal was made to the Parish Council for a skate boarding park in the village. The Parish Council looked very carefully at the proposal and decided to ask the village what it thought. We put a short questionnaire in SAL.
"Meanwhile we looked at the possibility of a site that would be suitable and at possible costings and talked to people who had worked to get skate parks in their areas. We found that it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to find a site that would be acceptable to other residents in the village. Skate parks are pretty noisy things and usually are floodlit. They are also very expensive. They require a lot of hard landscaping which costs a great deal to install and to maintain. The insurance too is expensive. There was also the question of what would happen when skate parks were no longer 'fashionable'. It would be difficult and expensive to dismantle and an eyesore if left unused.
"The result was that the Parish Council felt we could do more and better things which would have wider appeal, and be less controversial! The recreational land in the village is leased to the Parish Council, or in the case of Robinson's Close to the Recreational Trust, by Dr. Radcliffe's Trustees. There is only so much land available and the Trustees need to approve the uses. So, we decided to work towards the Millennium Park and Play area you have today. We held a Consultation Meeting which a good number of children, teenagers and adults came and lots of ideas were put forward. A lot of grant money was raised and in 2007 work began on the present facilities with a varied collection of activities for all ages including the MUGA and the BMX area, which is now being re-modelled by a group of teenagers working towards their Duke of Edinburgh's Award. The whole area is very well used and seems to be enjoyed by all age groups.
"I think that that is all the Parish Council can manage and fund at present, so, I think for now a skate park does not look likely, though it would be interesting to know what other people think. "
Margaret Mason
SAPC
Peter Taylor has emailed in to say he is in favour of a skate park too.
He writes " I agree with Joe and think we should have a skate park, it doesn't have to be a big one though. Also my younger brother has told that when him and his friends are scootering in the park they sometimes get told off but there's not anywhere else for them to scooter if we do get a skate park it would mean they wouldn't get told off."
Do you agree with Peter and Joe ? Why don't you let us know what you think? Just email editor@steepleaston.org.uk
Things to Do
For ideas of places to go locally with children of all ages – walks, playgrounds, swimming pools, museums and discovery, please click here
For information on the arts and entertainment in the area, please click here
And for lots more useful links, especially for older children and teenagers, please click here.