A GROUP for young people in Bordon would support enquiries into a new skatepark, according to one of its members. Ian Dowdle, a member of the Whitehill and Bordon Youth Umbrella Group, said it would act as a sponsor if the Skatepark Users Group (SUG) decided to apply to the district council for a stand-alone grant for new facilities. Last month, SUG members told Whitehill Town Council they wanted a set of ramps on the Mill Chase Recreation Ground because they alleged they were being intimidated by soldiers at the current site on Army land in Budds Lane. But Bordon Garrison Commander Colonel Geoff Brown denied troops went near the site. SUG believes the 100 core users of the park, plus casual skaters, who are aged around eight to 25, would be safer at the recreation ground and would have access to toilets in the pavilion and at the youth centre at Mill Chase School. Although SUG does not need backing or funding from the town council to make an application to East Hampshire District Council's Youth Opportunity Fund, the two bodies are due to meet. The users' group was set up when the skatepark opened four years ago to give young people a sense of ownership over the equipment. Mr Dowdle said: "Young people make up almost a third of the population of Whitehill and Bordon. Here we have youngsters with the drive to try to enhance facilities in the town, whom the umbrella group would be willing to help."
