COMMUNITY activists are maintaining the pressure over the lack of play areas for older children in Winchester.

Campaigners are battling to preserve the skate park at the River Park Leisure Centre after the city council announced plans to transfer the area to Southampton University sparking fears for its long-term future.

Raising the wider issue, Emma Back of Winchester Sport and Leisure Trust highlighted the lack of play areas for youngsters, especially the northern part of the city.

At a recent town forum Ms Back highlighted a Chronicle report that Winchester had less provision than places such as Andover and Eastleigh.


READ MORE HERE: Petition to save Winchester Skate Park gathers thousands of signatures

Cllr Kelsie Learney, portfolio holder for housing and asset management, said there was no threat to the skate park: "There are no plans to move the skate park at the current ime. The university are keen to incorporate into their thinking about the expansion plans for that site and indeed thinking about how it can be made better, not just around maintaining it but how to make it better.

The ruling Lib Dems acknowledge the issue. Cllr Kelsie Learney, portfolio holder for housing and asset management, said: "There is a tendency to see young people as problems when they are an asset to the community who need to be welcomed. Far too often they are excluded. It is really important that we start including them to a greater extent than we have done in decision-making. We treat them as hard to reach when they are not hard to reach, but we need to do more."

Cllr Learney highlighted the expense of being young in Winchester. "It is cheaper to go on the train to the cinema in Eastleigh then go to the cinema in Winchester."

 

Message from the editor

Thank you for reading this story. We really appreciate your support.

Please help us to continue bringing you all the trusted news from your area by sharing this story or by following our Facebook page.

Kimberley Barber