*** A BMX Bike Track Bulldoze Threat ***
Lincolnshire, UK -- 03/09/2008
http://www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk/shared/contentbinaries/publish/2171028.jpg
Landowner Sir Reginald Sheffield has appealed to parents
to take responsibility for a bike trail built by their sons on
his estate in North Lincolnshire.
Otherwise he has warned he will have to bulldoze
their DIY adventure playground in case he is sued.
Sir Reginald's concern over the work carried out by
around 15 have-a-go teenagers is shared by parish
councillors in Burton-upon-Stather.
The teenagers, aged between 14 and 18, spent four
months, mainly working at the weekends, on designing
and building their own venue for a sport known as dirt
-jumping.
They earmarked a secluded site, off Wood Hill, Burton, and their
enterprise has met with enthusiasm from the owner, Sir Reginald.
Ashley Railton (15) said: "We did all the digging and moulding
ourselves and so far we have built 10 mounds for jumping at
heights of between four and five feet.
"There are other BMX tracks in North Lincolnshire but they are
not really suitable for dirt-jumping. So we're really proud of the
job we've done."
Ashley, a student at High Ridge School, Scunthorpe, believes their
parents could not afford to cover the insurance required for the site.
"We have been told the estate intends to bulldoze the track unless
a formal agreement is signed - and now we are hoping the parish
council will officially adopt the site," he added.
Daniel Mumby (16), of Flixborough Road, Burton, said:
"In the next phase we were going to build our own BMX track.
"But we now fear all our work could be in vain because of the
steep insurance costs. That is unless a sponsor comes forward."
The parish council has taken the unusual step of writing to
some of the parents to seek their support for the track.
Clerk Pauline Denby said in her letter: "They (the estate) do not
want to bulldoze the track but will be forced to do so for insurance
purposes.
"The parish council faces exactly the same
problem in the present culture of insurance claims."
Dermot Spurrier, the land agent to the Normanby Estate, confirmed
Sir Reginald wanted parents to take responsibility for the track and
sign a formal agreement.
Mr Spurrier said if the parents agreed they would
be leased the land at a nominal rent of £10 a year.
"Sir Reginald is fully supportive of the initiative shown by
the boys and is keen to see the dirt trail continue," he added.
"It's better for the teenagers to be organising their own sports than
hanging about on street corners and causing problems for residents.
"But the estate is at risk of being sued unless an agreement is
signed indemnifying it against any claims for injury or damage."
Geneb...Wenatchee,Washington-USA
All Things Northwest in BMX!
***** Gene`s BMX *****
http://www.genesbmx.com
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