I WAS dismayed to read that Bolton's privately-run Bones Skatepark, in Gilnow Lane, has been allowed to close by the council.

Skateboarding, rollerblading and BMX are healthy sports enjoyed by many thousands of young (and older) people throughout Greater Manchester.

The numbers of people participating in these sports is greater then many sports that are considered to be mainstream and attract support and investment from councils and public bodies.

Unfortunately, the council's response was to make these sports illegal in the town centre and fail to provide any suitable alternative facilities. There are skateparks in the town, but they are of poor quality and used by yobs who scare away those who wish to use them properly.

Many other towns and cities in the UK have invested heavily in skatepark projects, but Bolton Council refuses to even consider the idea.

Bones Skatepark was a superb facility and was rightfully considered to be one of the best indoor skateparks in the country. It has been visited by many of the top riders from the UK and USA.

Now the young people of Bolton have no choice but to put themselves at risk of on-the-spot fines by using the town centre as their only viable venue, or give up their chosen sport. I would estimate that it would cost the council at least £250,000 to provide a facility to the standard of Bones Skatepark, whereas for an investment of a few thousand pounds, it could have been kept open.

The council claims it has invested £6,000 in activities at the park after the introduction of the ban, but no such activities were held this summer, directly contributing towards the financial problems that have forced the park's closure.

The park is now open to vandals and is no doubt being trashed at this very moment.

People are always complaining that young people should do something productive with their time to keep them off the streets. These sports achieve exactly this, and provide good exercise.

Perhaps now the skatepark has closed, more young people will turn to sitting around the streets, drinking and indulging in the yobbish behaviour that is currently the bane of our society.

I would like to appeal to the council to act in any way it can to save this valuable community resource.

Jason Hurley, Eaves Lane, Chorley