CITY of York Council has shown yet again how they are opposed to leisure facilities in York.

The Barbican is to close; it is proposed to build housing on the football ground at Bootham Crescent and now a skateboard park in Holgate is to be bulldozed four months after it was opened at a cost to York rate payers of £65,000 (July 21).

But Coun Fairclough says in the Evening Press "he hoped another facility could be put up... in the near future". Yes, at a huge cost to rate-payers.

I bet when the skateboard park was open the Evening Press carried a photograph of smiling councillors vote-winning in this "exciting new facility for the young people of the area".

A few residents have complained about the skateboard park so the council close it. Because 1,800 people have objected to the building of houses at Bootham Crescent, presumably the council will follow the precedent it has set, listen to its residents and block the planning application.

David Potter,

Lynden Way, Acomb, York.

...CONSULTATION took place with residents and young people to obtain the skate park in the first place and they have been betrayed by the actions of the council over the removal of the equipment.

While I appreciate that there have been some issues about behaviour, not all young people should be blamed and penalised for the actions of others.

I have already been approached by young people in the Acomb area who used this facility. They want to know where they should now go because Rowntree Park and Foss Bank are too far for them. As they have said, and I agree, next they will be criticised for using their skateboards on the street.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing,

Carnot Street, York.

Updated: 11:01 Wednesday, July 23, 2003