COUNCILLORS have denied claims that they are about to demolish a town’s skateboard park in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour at the site.

But Forest of Dean Labour Party youth officer Zac Arnold has accused Lydney Town Council and the recreation park trustees of being “out of touch” over the issue and has launched a campaign to preserve the skatepark.

In a statement, Lydney Town Council said: “You may have seen reports on social media and local press that Lydney Recreation Trust is removing the skatepark.

“We would stress that this information is incorrect. Trustees have requested an agenda item in relation to addressing anti-social behaviour.

“No decision has been taken in relation to the skatepark. We can confirm that the Trust is, however, considering its options.

“No further discussion on this subject will take place until the next Trust meeting at the end of November.”

But Zac stormed: “The fact that Lydney Town Council are even considering the option of demolishing Lydney skate park in their failed ‘war on anti-social behaviour’ shows just how out of touch and self-serving these councillors are…

“It shows the attitude of Lydney Town Council towards young people in the community which has consistently been poor at best, and utterly despicable at worst.”

He added: “I call on Lydney Recreation Trust and Lydney Town Council to take the option of ripping down the skate park off the table – it will not solve any of our problems but will cause more.

“It will also penalise the children, teenagers and young adults that use it properly and it is not acceptable that everybody should suffer as a result of a very small minority of individuals.”

He also attacked councillors for referring to young people collectively as “yobs” in local papers, and claimed they had refused to participate in district-wide youth service initiatives fostered by the Forest Council, or refused to offer them a space to go where they can sit, socialise and listen to music without disturbing those around them.

“These young people used to sit, causing no problems at the skate park but then they were moved on by the council’s decision to turn off the floodlights at dusk, they are chased out of Bathurst Park and now are being forced out of Newerne Street car park,” he said.

“I also call on Lydney Recreation Trust and Lydney Town Council to look into the validity of investing in developing an area, potentially by Lydney Boating Lake or elsewhere, which is far enough away from housing to avoid disrupting residents.

“These young people need a space to go simply to sit and the town council is in a prime position to offer them this.”

He accepted that the behaviour of some young people was “entirely unacceptable and should be fully challenged”, but the causes of bad behaviour should be addressed by a cross-party, cross-authority consensus on how to tackle it,” he added.