AN ANGRY community is urging a council to get its skates on and sort out a new rollerblading and skateboard facility.

Bursledon parish councillor Jack Helgeson said the village authority handed over £8,000 last November for the special equipment to be installed on a recreation site behind Cedar Close on the Pilands Wood Estate.

But despite repeated requests it took until July for delivery of two metal ramps and for a piece of Tarmac to be put down.

Now, locals say there are still pieces missing from the agreed scheme and the ramps have caused nothing but trouble since they have been on site.

Following protests, Eastleigh council workmen returned to bolt down the two ramps to stop them moving, but Mr Helgeson said two grind rails and a centrepiece were still missing.

"I'm seething mad. The youngsters in Bursledon have got nothing - this is the first thing that has been put in Bursledon for years and it is not satisfactory. We were promised everything would be done by last Thursday," he commented.

On top of that, Cedar Close residents say the ramps have been making their lives hell because of the noise, rubbish, vandalism and general hooliganism from teenagers who have tried to take over the facility. They claim rowdy teenagers have thrown boulders at the ramps, lit fires, smashed bottles and used the facility as a drug-taking den.

Cedar Close resident Mrs Sharon Edwards stressed that locals were in favour of the rollerblading facility but said residents - who have drawn up a petition - wanted action to sort out the problems.

High on their wishlist is to see the sides of the ramps filled in to cut down noise of rollerblades and BMX bikes trundling over them as well as preventing teenagers from "hiding" underneath the structures.

Mr Helgeson said: "If the sides were infilled we could then look at how it should be policed."

An Eastleigh Council spokesman said the equipment was purchased only after extensive consultation with local youngsters.

Although it was ordered last December as part of a package deal, it had not been the intention to install it immediately. However, bad weather had delayed the council's spring timetable.

"Officers have met with residents regarding the equipment and have taken their views on board. "The ramps can be back-filled which will hopefully reduce the noise problems.

"We know they are being well used by local children and development of the facility is on-going."

The spokesman added that the final pieces of equipment were programmed to be installed "imminently."

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