Foulger condemns Tory vandalism

2.59.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 3rd Mar 2004

Leading Beckenham Liberal Democrat Jef Foulger has condemned the bulldozing of a local youth facility by Bromley Council as "Tory vandalism".

In 1994 a derelict former council depot was cleared by over 100 local young people. £70,000 was raised to equip the centre as Harvington Skateboard Park with money from the Mayor's charity, the Sports Council, local businesses and the young people themselves — no money came from the Council.

Last November, following some complaints about noise, Conservative run Bromley Council gave the organisers 14 days to leave the site. This gave no time for equipment to be taken for use elsewhere, before the Tory Council sent the bulldozers in.

Jef Foulger said: "This is mindless vandalism. This area was the only designated youth centre in the area and one of the few places to skateboard in the borough. If young people are to be diverted away from anti-social behaviour the Council should be providing facilities, not bulldozing them."