How can they be so out of touch?

THE article describing children's lack of green open space in Compton Bishop and the surrounding areas on the front page of last week's Somerset Mercury is absolutely ridiculous. How can the parish council be so out of touch?I have lived in Cross all my life and during this 21 year period have never once considered there to be a lack of space for recreation. My two sisters and I feel privileged to have spent our childhoods playing ball games in the quarry, exploring the surrounding hills and along the riverside footpaths. I do not know anyone in this area who does not have access to a garden and the countryside around. Young people go to Cheddar because it is a central meeting point that is easily accessible to the surrounding satellite villages. As for other villages in the area my friends are scattered throughout neighbouring villages and they have no shortage of space either. It is unreasonable to portray Cross and Compton Bishop as a vandalised, boring place to live when it has given me a childhood some people dream of. Do we now live in such a bitter world that a child accidentally kicking their ball into their neighbour's garden is considered vandalism? As for graffiti on walls and eggs thrown at cars I have never heard of such an incident and so I can only assume this was an isolated incident fuelled by an alternative motive other than boredom.Cross is an amazing place to live because it has so much open space. The only time there could be a problem is after dark and the simple solution is to use the village hall as a youth centre with games consoles, a pool table and a socialising area. This I feel is a preferable choice to a public open space which might become the focal point for vandalism and unruly behaviour.DANIEL WITHECOMBE - Via email