Taylor leading campaign for skateboard park in town

Aug 27 2008 Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

A COATBRIDGE youth has raised the need for building a skatepark in the town to help entertain the local kids.

Taylor Aitchison (14) has sent e-mails to both North Lanarkshire Council and the Scottish Parliament in an attempt to get this project off the ground.

The Scottish Parliament told him that there was already a mobile skatepark in business in the Coatbridge area but, in reality, the project had finished a while ago.

Taylor said: ‘‘Many local people will be aware of the number of youths hanging around Coatbridge’s main streets.

“A lot of us feel that if we had this facility in the area we could be able to putn our time to better use.

‘‘I fear that many adults simply ‘shrug off’ our requests. We currently have a petition ongoing with more and more support everyday.’’

This petition has been running only a few days and in the first 48 hours alone it had gathered 48 signatures.

Taylor also has the support of local MSP Elaine Smith, who is communicating with the local council to promote the project.

Taylor said: ‘‘The feedback from people has been tremendous and even non-skaters are willing to promote the idea.

‘‘The biggest people we have had is getting people to listen and that’s why this petition, and the support it receives, is so important.’’

People can sign Taylor’s petition online at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/CoatbridgeSkatepark/index.html.