THE other day I was busy reading my book, drinking a coffee in a park in the sunshine and when I looked up instead of just seeing my son and his friend, I found I was in the midst of about 20 young people. Many were wearing hoodies and they looked like

THE other day I was busy reading my book, drinking a coffee in a park in the sunshine and when I looked up instead of just seeing my son and his friend, I found I was in the midst of about 20 young people. Many were wearing hoodies and they looked like they were up to something. And they were. They had their roller blades and BMX bikes and were having a wonderful time riding the very attractive concrete sunken skatepark in the centre of Bulwark Park in Chepstow. They were chatting quietly amongst themselves, resting between the energetic practicing of their tricks, and sometimes they even chatted to me. They were a welcome sight, an inspiring and interesting group of people enjoying the sunny weather in their local park. I wished that anyone who was worried about having a skatepark built in just a tiny bit of Kilkenny Fields could be there. It was really pleasant, and I put my book down and watched. I am one of the parents helping the young people who are trying to get a new skatepark built in Portishead and would ask residents to support this project as much as they can. www.portishead sk8.org.ukSARAH SOUTER - Beach Road East, Portishead