Wheely good time for teens (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Wheely good time for teens

BEING a teenager in a rural village can sometimes be a bit boring but one group of youngsters have taken matters into their own hands to make life more fun.

The boys from South Cerney have built their own bike track in the playing fields at Upper Up and last week paid for the ramps to have a make-over.

James Scott, 21, explained how the group had worked closely with South Cerney Parish Council over the past few years to keep the project going.

He said: "We used to ride in the quarries which was a bit dangerous. Then in 2003 me and a friend got talking to one of the then parish councillors, James Harris.

"He had an idea about building a lake and conservation area in the playing field and we had the idea of using the spare dirt for ramps and from there it has just grown."

James explained the group hand put their hands in the own pockets to hire a JCB for the latest revamp.

He singled out three of the group, Seb Genillard, Chris Hartland and Sandy Stewart, for particular thanks in keeping the ramps going.

James also had paid tribute to the parish council for allowing them to build the track.

He said: "It's really refreshing, instead of having to hide from the council and do stuff on our own, to have them being helpful and supporting us, it's great."

Mike Stuart, chair of South Cerney Parish Council, said he was pleased with the close ties between the council and the group.

He said: "They built it up very well and it's a job they've done themselves. It's great to see youngsters to that sort of thing."