Elderly people fear a new skate park will lead to rowdy behaviour and vandalism.

Bradford Council planners have backed a scheme to transform wasteground at Avenel Road, Allerton, into a skateboarding, rollerblading and kickabout area.

The project is for land which is used informally by youngsters as a play area, mainly for football.

But the plan has infuriated resident Gordon Clark, who is worried that it will attract unwelcome visitors to the area who might intimidate many of the elderly people living nearby.

"I have nothing against the children of today and nothing against them having fun," said Mr Clark, 66, of Avenel Road.

"I have lived here for 38 years and have made many friends who are children. What I do object to is having schemes forced upon us which will affect us."

Mr Clark, who still works as a groundsman at Thornton Grammar School, has now written to the Council in a last-ditch attempt to scupper the scheme.

He said he had spoken to most of the elderly people living in the area and 85 per cent of them objected to the skate park.

Mr Clark said they were worried about lack of supervision and the prospect of vandalism and children running amok in their gardens late at night.

"It's got to be knocked on the head,'' he said.

The scheme, which will see a special surface laid and ramps built, was the idea of 17-year-old skateboarder Paul Stoyles, who said young people were having to travel as far afield as Wakefield because of lack of facilities in Bradford.

The scheme has also been supported by Bradford Councillor Clive Richardson (Con, Thornton).

Mr Clark also claimed residents were not given a chance to oppose the scheme.

But Coun Richardson denied there had been a lack of consultation and said there had been two public meetings about the plans.

Work on the park is due to be carried out later this year.

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