This evening (Monday 28 January 2019) Lydney Town Council’s Recreation Trust backed down on their consideration to demolish Lydney Skate Park due to a reluctant and active campaign led by our Youth Officer, Zac Arnold and Labour’s only current town councillor, Cllr Roger Holmes.

The trust asked to keep “all options on the table” regarding the tackling of “anti-social behaviour” at the facility which was seen widely as the continuation of an unsuccesfull war on young people by the council.

After the vote at Monday’s trust meeting. Cllr Harry Ives (Conservative Party Member) proposed a motion trying to wipe the slate clean and act as if the council was never considering this option when they most definitely were.

Zac Arnold, Youth Officer for Forest of Dean Constituency Labour Party, said:

“This is great news for the young people of Lydney who have been targeted and labelled as “thugs” and “chavs” by councillors and council officials due to the actions of a small minority of young people who’s behaviour isn’t acceptable.

However, the attitude of Lydney Town Council is still far from acceptable in itself and we must continue to push for real change in the approach that our elected representatives take when it comes to representing our young people.

Forest of Dean Labour Party is still incredibly concerned at the failure of the council to participate in the district-wide youth services initiative currently being led by the Forest Voluntary Action Forum.

The fight is by no means over and we hope that the people of Lydney will realise this May that Lydney is in desperate need of real change to ensure it works for the many, not just the privileged few.”

Councillor Roger Holmes, Labour’s Councillor on Lydney Town Council proposed a motion at the trust meeting calling for the trust to leave the Skate Park “as is” and install CCTV cameras which are deemed to be more effective in tackling anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Holmes said:

“I’m extremely proud to have proposed this motion on Monday which committed the trust to retain the Skate Park and Multi Activity Games Area on the trust ground.

Removing a facility such as this would have only increased tensions, moved issues elsewhere and would have come at an extortionate cost to the tax payer.”