IF there is one thing that highlights the gap between the generations, it is the attitude towards play and leisuretime.

Most parents and grandparents used to play in the park or out on the streets near their homes with their pals.

They might get the odd telling off from neighbours if a football went into their garden too often, but overall they could run around outside, enjoying themselves until parents called them in.

This has now changed dramatically.

Because of fears for their safety -- as well as the unwillingness of many youngsters to get out and about in the fresh air -- more children will now be found in their own rooms, playing computer games, watching a film or cruising Internet chatrooms.

There are certainly parents with small children in parks and playgrounds during the day. But later in the day, there is a sinister change.

Older children, toting booze and bad language, hijack many local parks and playgrounds for their own noisy "play" sessions, which antagonise and upset people nearby.

Already, local councillors are having to rethink plans for putting playgrounds on new estates for this very reason. At Turton Heights, in Bromley Cross, some neighbours have complained about teenagers drinking, smoking and hurling abuse at residents.

Not far away in the Hospital Road area, residents are being asked about the future of two pieces of spare land to see whether it is worth installing a playground.

It seems very sad that closing some playgrounds may be the only option in some areas. We will be penalising tiny tots because teenagers are bored.

The trend merely emphasises once more how vital it is to improve facilities for older children right across Bolton.

Surely calls for proper skateparks have now reached loud enough levels for something to be done?

And that should be just the start. We need a long-term plan to provide facilities for youngsters plainly with too much time and energy on their hands and too little to do.

Ask residents in many communities across the borough the single biggest daily problem, and it is likely to involve the behaviour of young people.

Yet we offer no real solutons. And now look set to close down even more gathering places, thus forcing them back onto the streets and outside people's front doors.

Only a real, practical move to improve facilities as soon as possible will make any difference to the quality of life for both local residents and our yungsters.

The consequences if we don't get this right do not bear thinking about.