Cleaning up their act

A GROUP of young men ordered to carry out community service by the courts have dedicated their hours to cleaning up a skate park.

The committee which oversees the skate park at Saxon Gate in Biggleswade was not expecting the youngsters when they arrived on Friday and spent the next three days sprucing up the park.

The skate park was forced to close in May when the Biggleswade Three-Style Skate Board Association said it could no longer afford the insurance.

Biggleswade Town Council and Mid Beds District Council came to its rescue donating £3,000 each so the park was able to re-open again much to the joy of the many children who use the facility from all over the county.

But one of the major problems at the park has been keeping it clean and tidy after a spate of vandalism when graffiti was sprayed over equipment.

The job in recent months has been undertaken by two members of the committee, Ken Lynch and local Biggleswade councillor Rex Skinner, who are both pensioners.

Not only was litter a problem but an area leading to the skate park had become overgrown by long grass and nettles making it look untidy.

"These young men who had been put on probation and ordered to do community service have done a wonderful job," said Cllr Skinner.

"They spent three days doing odd hours at the skate park and have cut down all the nettles and cleared all the rubbish up. The place looks very clean and tidy, the best it has looked for a long time.

"The job was done without any prompting from the association and it was a surprise to everyone. I understand it was organised by Mid Beds District Council through the probation service.

"I understand the young lads are returning for a couple of hours each week to make sure the park is kept tidy.

"Perhaps now the place is clean and tidy the youngsters who use the park can stop dropping their rubbish and put it in the bins there.