Mum won't keep mum over ramp

A MOTHER warned to take down her son's BMX ramp is pleading with planners to think again. The Guilles have until tomorrow to dismantle the structure in the back garden of their home at Les Dicqs, Vale. Environment has ruled it breaks rural planning laws and detracts from the character of the area. But Patricia Guille claims it is not doing any harm and is keeping her 14-year-old son, Philip, and his mates off the streets.

'I understand the States is only doing its job,' she said.

'But this is doing something for our young people.'

The 'spine-mini' ramp, made of marine plywood, is 6ft tall. Philip and his friend, fellow fanatic Chris Power, built it over the summer holiday. He helped fund his '700 share of the project with earnings from his Saturday job at a bike shop where he first caught the BMX bug. Now, about a dozen friends use the ramp to hone their skills.

Patricia and her husband, John, an athletics coach, ran into planning problems in September when they returned from holiday to find a letter from Environment.

'We never dreamed the ramp was breaking the law. It's on our land and isn't in anyone's way. They hardly make any noise.

'As far I know, only one neighbour has complained. I wouldn't mind if the roles were reversed because I think we should all support each other. I would see that something like this was helping keep our local youngsters out of mischief and surely that benefits everyone.'

But despite lodging a retrospective application with planners, the family received the thumbs down last month.

Although the ramp is in their garden, the area falls within an agricultural zone. Letting it stay would clash with department policy.

Although the family's 28 days' grace ends tomorrow, the Guilles are penning a letter to Environment asking it to consider another factor. They promise their ramp would be a temporary fixture that would be later donated to a proposed new island skate park.

The ramp has already won the backing of a string of politicians including deputies Mary Lowe, Graham Guille and the island's extreme sports spokesman, Mike O'Hara.

Now the family is praying for an eleventh hour reprieve.

'We've all got our fingers crossed that the Environment people will listen to our case once again,' said Mrs Guille.

'If we have to take the ramp down, then of course we will: we certainly don't want to break the law.

'But I really don't understand why trying to keep our local young people happy and occupied can be seen as such a crime.'