No answer from local government

is only to be expected I suppose - but I will keep trying.

I wrote to my "local council" - the local government office - almost four weeks ago. I have since followed that up twice.

The question is a simple one. Is the road/lane/driveway (call it what you will) leading into the "court" opposite private or public property? If it is private property then there may be some restrictions on its use. If it is public property then any restrictions will be in accordance with the law regarding access roads.

My own training leads me to believe that the area is public property. If it is then there is nothing at all to stop the children from riding up and down.  All of them, as required by law, wear their helmets. Their bikes are maintained by their parents - with some "help" by those old enough to take some responsibility for such things. The area is flat, smooth and the number of cars using the space is minimal. There is always an adult present watching.

And no the children do not make a great deal of noise, nor are they there at unreasonable hours. 

All this has been explained to the council. All we need is a "yes" or a "no" answer. Apparently this is proving difficult. Why?

There is another piece in the paper this morning about a similar issue in another council area. The older children want a space in which they can ride their BMX bikes or their skateboards. Apparently the adults don't want to give up a tennis court (in an area endowed with an unusually large number of courts) or a sliver of land that surrounds an oval (and it is a long way from the oval boundary). Why? Don't they want the young to play outside, to exercise? 

I would much prefer to have some noise and children and teens getting some exercise than have them playing computer games or roaming the streets looking for something to do. It will shortly be even more essential in this street because the long summer holidays will be coming up and while I know that the children will, reluctantly, be attending "school holiday programs" they will have more time at home with grandparents too. They will want to be out and active at least some of the time.

What's better (1) staying inside and not getting exercise?

                      (2) riding in the street - and possibly getting hit by a car?

                     (3) riding in the safer area? Yes, falling off your bike and hurting yourself can occur there too but it might also teach you your limits

I think I will go with (3) so I will be on to the council yet again today.