A COTFORD St Luke mother has started a petition to see a new skatepark installed at the village recreation ground.

More than 100 people have signed the online petition so far to get a concrete skatepark installed, which was the brainchild of Caroline Ashworth.

Mrs Ashworth has been dedicated to clearing up the park for a while, but she said the last straw was when her eight-year-old son came home with glass in his hand.

She said: “I’ve kind of been on a one-woman mission to clean up the park.

“There is dog poo everywhere, the bin is overflowing, sometimes there is smashed glass on the floor. I am down there everyday cleaning up.

“I let my son go to the park with his friend, I can see the park from my house so I thought it would be fine. But he came home crying with glass in his hand, now I am too scared for him to go on his own.”

Mrs Ashworth was inspired by Hamilton Park in Taunton when she started the petition. She said the great family atmosphere is something that is needed in the village.

BMXers Richard Perry and Sam Burdett are also showing their support for the idea. 

The park is looked after by Taunton Deane Borough Council (TDBC).

Taunton Deane said the bins are cleared twice a week, but that parish councils can ask for extra collections.

According to the authority, matters regarding public hazards can be reported to the council and will be dealt with quickly.

Children from Cotford St Luke Primary School are also passionate about the park, and will be presenting their ideas for the playground at the parish council meeting in May.

A spokesman for TDBC said: “Our community leisure officer will be going to this meeting to meet them and receive their ideas.

“The play area and recreation ground belongs to TDBC but the parish council is very closely involved in how recreation should be developed as a whole within the village.”

Mrs Ashworth says that a skatepark would be more beneficial to the children than an outdoor gym, and that adding play equipment for younger children would encourage more families to visit the park and promote healthy living.

Click here to sign the petition.