ALL is not well in Kempsey, it would appear.

Some folk are fuming that they've missed the chance to air their opposition to plans for a skateboard ramp in the village.

They waited forlornly to argue against it at this month's parish council meeting - but the quarterly public forum happened last month, when the case for the ramp was put.

Now more than 50 people have signed a petition against it, and six people have written letters of objection.

While we agree with parish chairman Joy Clee that the hopes of the village's youngsters and the concerns of residents have to be balanced, we have to take issue with the protesters.

If they're to be believed, the youngsters using the ramp will leave litter, daub graffiti, use bad language, play loud music, take drugs, commit vandalism, bully smaller children and attract "undesirables" to the area.

"Full, frank and well thought-out" the arguments of the dissenters may be, according to one resident. But what kind of message does that list of fears send the youngsters?

Whether it's in Kempsey or Kilmarnock, society rightly complains when children fail to find ways of keeping themselves occupied.

Modern culture's to blame. Our children have grown up with their entertainment coming in flashy packaging with an on-off switch providing instant satisfaction.

Now that a group of youngsters wants to help themselves, they find opposition in the most discouraging of terms.

This won't be music to some ears, but we say give the kids a break. Let them earn your trust and, in return - despite the prejudice - show how responsible their generation can be.