Geoff Pike, of Longford Lane, Kingsteignton, writes:I was appalled to read in your newspaper that a BMX track/skate park could be placed on a site at Hackney Marshes nature reserve. After consultation and planning, I presume that the ripping up of trees and shrubs and general disturbance in creating the park will take place in the spring/summertime breeding season for birds and small animals, and the noise and litter will then continue for the rest of the year. Has the mayor, or any of the PCSOs, ever walked around the marshes? There are already incidents of bags of dog faeces being removed from bins and thrown about, and yes I do replace them in the bin. There is a continual litter problem, which I also attempt to tackle on my way around the marsh footpaths, taking the litter home as there are no litter bins on Hackney Marshes. There has been for some time an informal BMX track in the field adjoining the North and South Lodges of the Passage House Inn, and the mess there on some summer mornings is just awful: cans, plastic and glass bottles, broken glass, fast food packaging, wrecked bikes, filthy clothing, plastic bags, ash and burnt wood from fires, even a ripped tent. Has the mayor or any of the PCSOs walked under the A380 bridge near the Passage House Inn and seen the damage caused to the newly-erected fence by youngsters wishing to ride scramble bikes up the river bank? Or the amount of rubbish and fire damage left under that bridge?Yes, a skate park is needed, but not on or near a nature reserve. What happened to the plans for a sports centre at Abbrook? The racecourse is always available, as it is already used by various sporting activities and seems a more suitable venue for BMX and skating enthusiasts.
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