My name is Jake Wilson, I am 11 years old and from Clifton and go to Henlow Middle School. I want to talk to you about the Mid Beds MX Youth Project and why it should be approved. We have been trying to create this project for over three years, it is the

My name is Jake Wilson, I am 11 years old and from Clifton and go to Henlow Middle School. I want to talk to you about the Mid Beds MX Youth Project and why it should be approved.

We have been trying to create this project for over three years, it is the kids who have asked for it as there is no safe place to ride without people after us. We do not want to be criminals, or break the law, all we want to do is enjoy our bikes safely. I have been to London and Dover and seen their motocross tracks which have been approved and supported by their councils.

It will not affect the people in Langford because it is far enough from housing, and there will be limited days when it will be open. It will have a perimeter fence round it.

All of the children on the track must be accompanied by an adult, otherwise they will not be let on. Also, when you turn 17 you will not be allowed on to stop smaller children getting scared when a massive bike flies past them. We have done loads of work and raised money for the club and other charities. We even have our own web page www.midbedsmx.co.uk

We really need a motocross track because every piece of land we find to ride on, the police start threatening to destroy our bikes and have a go at us. We would like a youth club so that we can improve our skill at riding and our technique and learn about mechanics, and it will not be just for motocross, it will be for bmx. I do not even have a PlayStation and I would much rather be out there riding bikes than that anyway. I ask you for your help and support in either supporting us and the land we have in Langford, or in helping us find a better piece of land. I am sure that if we did this around England, far fewer kids would be involved in taking drugs, vandalism, criminal acts, murder, watching television all day and suicide.

A few of us have written to Tony Blair, the Queen and lots of other people asking for help, but we only get letters back saying they will look into it. I do not think they get to read their letters themselves.

My friend Tyler and me even went to our council's massive new office at night and gave a speech to them all. They all clapped and said thank you for coming, but did not offer us anything. I saw all the politicians on the news the other night saying that fifteen-year-olds carry guns and shoot each other because there is nothing better for them to do and their parents do not do anything with them. This club is all about what they were talking about, so they should see what we want to do, not just being on television talking about it. All people do is complain about children, but do not want to help them when they want to do something good.

So far, it seems that everyone agrees that it is a brilliant idea, but no one wants to help us.

JAKE WILSON, Knolls Way, Clifton