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BMX teenagers petition for 'improved' Bramford bike track

iSaac Chenery/BBC Local children and parentsiSaac Chenery/BBC
Cody and his friends canvassed Bramford to obtain signatures for their petition

A group of teenagers will present a petition to their local council, calling for a "new and improved" BMX bike track.

Cody Harvey, 14, and his friends ride at Bramford Playing Fields in Ipswich, on a daily basis.

A petition was raised for a new track after a complaint about the use of the "old, bumpy and ruined" space.

"We're just a couple of 14-year-olds trying to have some fun and get out the house," said Cody.

iSaac Chenery/BBC Cody HarveyiSaac Chenery/BBC
Cody said him and his friends use the Bramford bike track on a daily basis

The current field consists of a few earth mounds, which local children have been using as a makeshift BMX track.

Cody said he hoped a new site would include ramps and jumps for older children to use.

"This bike track has got all old, bumpy and ruined," Cody said.

"We come here every day to ride and we're trying to get a brand new one."

With the help of his mother Kerry-Louise, Cody and his friends created a petition, calling for a "new and improved bike track for children and adults of all ages".

The petition says: "The main pros to having a suitable track within our village would be to encourage all children of all ages to get outside in nature, helping to improve their physical and mental health".

It adds that "it would provide a dedicated space for teens to socialise whilst having fun safely, therefore reducing the possibilities of any antisocial behaviour created from boredom."

It has already garnered more than 300 signatures.

The group plan to present their petition to Bramford Parish Council during their next meeting on 16 October.

Isaac Chenery/BBC Claire BickersIsaac Chenery/BBC
Claire Bickers said she is "really proud" of the teenagers for doing something positive

Claire Bickers, whose son Zack is involved in the campaign, said the closest bike track for local teenagers was 13 miles away, near Bucklesham.

"I have been in contact with the chairman of the council and he is currently looking into grant funding," she said.

"If we can have one here on their doorstep, it's going to be amazing."

In June, the Bramford Playing Field Association announced that the playground would be renovated and "designed for children, by children".

But Cody said he felt his age group were "getting too old for all the stuff."

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