THE children in Skerton have had enough and have taken to the streets in protest.

Youngsters of all ages in and around Whalley Road, Richmond Avenue and Howgill Avenue say they are tired of playing in the streets and want their own play area.

This week the young radicals set about making their own posters, lobbying local worthies and taking their message direct to the streets.

"We a want a park" was the message of the protesters as they demonstrated on Wednesday night.

Well over 20 children took part in the protest claiming that it was dangerous for them to play in the streets.

"We want somewhere we can all go and play,:" said seven-year-old Leigh.

"We've only got the streets to play in and some people complain that we make too much noise."

The council has investigated the possibility of a play area in the neighbourhood but so far have been unable to identify a site.

The area has a large concentration of young children, estimated by the local tenants forum to be about 54 in just three streets, and at the moment there is no where for them to play except on the pavements and roads.

Leo Rowett of Lancaster North Tenants Forum said the children were right to make a protest.

"At the moment they are forced to play on busy roads and we're lucky that there hasn't been a serious accident. Overall they're good kids but when you get so many together playing and getting excited it can cause a lot of noise and nuisance for other residents. They knocked on my door and asked me about the play area. When I explained the situation they said that they'd have to have a protest and set about organising themselves and making posters."

He added: "I think they've got a point. It highlights how inadequate planning by developers fails to take into consideration the need for children's play facilities."

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