Skipton residents braved the sleet and wind on Tuesday afternoon to show solidarity in fighting the decision to close Bold Venture Playground.

Armed with placards, more than 50 children, their parents and friends marched out onto the Skipton recreation ground in an attempt to show the town council that they would not let it take their playground without a fight.

Last week the Herald reported on how Skipton Town Council was planning to close the playground on the recommendations of the North Yorkshire Playing Field Association.

The ground has been described as dangerous by councillors and inspectors, who were concerned about children playing in the nearby beck, the loose metal railings and the poor play equipment with no safety surfacing.

However, leader of the campaign group Allison Smith thought the council should have done more to maintain the ground and should not have let it fall into such a bad state of repair.

She pointed out that in 1924 when the land was purchased from Lord Hothfield it was on the condition that it was used for recreational purposes only.

Mrs Smith said: "Over the years several Keighley Road residents have applied for pieces of this land - these applications have always been turned down on the sole reason that it is for recreational use only."

She added that the playground had only become rundown since local government re-organisation. "Since the town council took over there has been no planned maintenance and very little casual maintenance, except for grass cutting."

Mrs Smith said what angered her most was that just before the last summer holidays the swings were removed and never replaced, and then three days into British summer time this year the ground was closed.

"All this because quite simply Skipton Town Council has neglected its responsibilities. Just where exactly are our children supposed to play?"

Residents were also concerned about the proposals to put a bridge over the railway line and encourage children to cross it to play at the Burnside recreation ground.

Christine Lambert said: "These playgrounds can be quite territorial. The kids down Burnside might not like their 'patch' to be invaded by the 'refugees' from Keighley Road. As for building a bridge over the railway line, what parent in this day and age wants their children playing out of sight over the other side of a railway line?"

Children from the Keighley Road area pointed out that the reason the inspectors said there was little evidence of children playing on the ground was because there was nothing for them to do there.

Laura Paul, 10, and sisters Lucy and Charlotte Thornborrow, aged nine and 10 respectively, said that they knew of children who built bridges down by the beck because there was nothing to play on at the playground. They added that they would use the ground if the equipment was more interesting and safe.

Pat Mowatt, of Alexandra Court, was worried about what would happen to the land if it was sold.

She pointed out that the Keighley Road area had seen a lot of development over the past few years. "It used to be all green fields round here now there are industrial estates. It is already over developed it cannot stand anymore."

Ward representative Beryl Beresford said she was against the closure. She added that the unsafe equipment and railings should have been repaired earlier.

"I can assure you this is not the end of it and I will take it as far as I can go," she declared, adding that she was incensed that the council was putting money into other playgrounds and not this one.

Mrs Beresford met local residents and Coun Dennis Hall last night (Thursday) to put forward her feelings on the closure.

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