"Leo, a 16-year-old skater, expressed his frustration, stating, 'They just put a massive padel court where our one spot is to get away from all this trouble. So we're back to car parks and back to Westfield, where we get told off by police.'"
"Noah, 15, shared his feelings about the park, saying, 'Skating in Bethnal Green Gardens gave me freedom. It means a lot to me as I grew up skating here. There's other spaces, but they're not really as good and popular as this space here.'"
"Jamie Simon criticized the padel court's fee, questioning, 'Which person around here who's in social housing is going to be thinking, 'Oh, do you know what? I'm going to go and spend 24 for an hour to play in a park where I could usually be there for free'?'"
"Lillie Almond, a supporter of the petition, highlighted the financial burden of activities, stating, 'Gym memberships are expensive. So many activities cost an arm and a leg to learn to do.'"
A petition against a newly built padel court in Bethnal Green Gardens has garnered over 2,300 signatures. Local youths, including Leo and Noah, express heartbreak over losing their roller-skating area. They emphasize the importance of having free spaces for exercise. Tower Hamlets Council offers mixed free and paid sessions for the court, but many locals question the affordability. Jamie Simon highlights the disparity between the padel court's limited capacity and the number of skaters who used the area. Concerns about rising costs for recreational activities are also voiced by community members.
Read at www.bbc.com
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