Skater on a roll for park (From Halesowen News)

Skater on a roll for park

3:59pm Thursday 2nd July 2009

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A 14-year-old boy is campaigning for action to clean up and extend a vandal-hit Halesowen skatepark.

Ellis Vanes has enlisted the help of town MP Sylvia Heal in his bid to get the Highfield Lane facility spruced up.

The Windsor High School pupil, who is a fanatic skateboarder, is concerned about the growing number of vandal attacks on the park and litter.

Ellis (pictured) reported that in the last few days, there had been a small fire in the park which, from the remains, appeared to have been started deliberately.

His mum, Debbie, said he was also worried that it was becoming a magnet for “unsavoury types” and the presence of police and especially community support officers had tailed off this year.

Dudley Council consulted young users of the park last summer but Debbie said their calls for improvements and an extension to the existing two ramps appeared to have come to nothing.

“Ellis decided to email Sylvia Heal and she has responded asking to meet him at the park to discuss the problems,” she said.

The campaigning teenager, of Windsor Road, who spends most evenings and weekends at the skatepark, is also calling for a shelter to be built to protect users from rain.

A council spokesman said: “Our parks team, together with our youth offending service and community renewal team, are working with the police in relation to any issues of antisocial behaviour at the site.

“The skate park is not part of the current £2.5 million play pathfinder scheme, which is seeing improvements to play facilities at 28 borough parks, six of which are in Halesowen.

“However, we will explore any opportunities for alternative funding in relation to Highfield Lane skatepark in the future.”

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