While I am not in agreement with vandalism of any sort, I am not surprised someone (adult or not) has taken a sledgehammer to the skateboard park in Southwick Rec.

Perhaps now the yobs who use it will know how it feels to have their things damaged. Last year, we put up with them defacing the park by stripping bark off trees, pulling branches down, digging trenches and generally being obnoxious. Now they have their own bit of the park, fenced to keep the dogs out. A better idea would have been to put up eight-feet-high railings to keep the yobs inside the skateboard area.

Immediately the ramp area was finished, it was defaced, along with its walls, and the site covered with litter. The language of the boys who use it is really foul.

Dog owners, especially women on their own, are frightened to walk there by themselves. Why should we have to put up with this? I have been in touch with Brighton and Hove City Council but received a stock reply saying the relevant departments had been informed.

Not content with having the park adapted for them, the yobs have now started to dig more of the park outside the area fenced off for them. I have also been informed the council is going to let them have a BMX track there as well. I have not seen any planning request for this. Yet more of our park is disappearing from under our noses.

Incidentally, does anyone know the name and date of birth or death of the person that bequeathed the Rec to the people of Southwick?

-Janette Sherry, Shoreham