A bike enthusiast says he has everything he needs to launch a free cycling club for kids, but his dyslexia is holding the project up.
Tony Byrne has been gifted a 20-hectare piece of woodland by the parish council in Borough Green to launch the venture.
Tony Byrne has land, funding and support but can’t move forward without help to fill in the paperwork
Although he has the land, funding and community support, because of his condition – which affects reading, writing and spelling – he is unable to fill in the paperwork to register the club as a community interest company (CIC).
Due to his learning difficulty, he rang Kent County Council, Tonbridge and Malling council and three dyslexia charities to ask if they offer paperwork assistance for those with his condition.
Thus far, he says the answer has been a resounding ‘no’.
The 50-year-old said: “I have done the hard work; I am just asking for them to help me with the paperwork.
“I told them what I was doing, and I need help with reading and writing to get it to the next level because I can’t move any further.”
Some of the teenagers who will benefit from the project in Borough Green. From left: Ben Potter, Jakub Lockyer, Joe Francis, Oliver Clarke
In response, the builder says the councils said they do not have the “expertise” to assist, while the charities said it isn’t a service they offer.
“It’s extremely frustrating for me. Most days I would spend time on the phone trying to sort it out with people.
“Some have gone on to ask me to put what I’ve said over the phone into an email, which I can’t do.”
In response, Tonbridge and Malling council (TMBC) told KentOnline it has “every sympathy” with Tony but said “we are not the right organisation to help him set up his community interest company”.
It suggests he get in touch with the regulator for CICs at Companies House for advice.
Part of the bike trail which is flat will be used for children in Borough Green and surrounding areas
The CIC regulator explained that it doesn’t offer a service where it could complete forms on behalf of customers but said it would work with the customer “as much as possible” to provide help and guidance.
The dad-of-two says his bike club idea came from realising that not all schools teach cycling proficiency anymore and as a result, not every child can ride a bike.
In addition, those who do ride don’t always have good spaces to enjoy cycling safely.
He said: “The club is for young children who can’t ride bikes, all the way up to adults.
“It is such a good thing for everybody in the local community. I want kids to be riding here in 20 years’ time.”
Mike Taylor says Borough Green parish council were unanimous in their support for the club
Parish council chairman Mike Taylor says Tony’s idea for the large tract of wild woodland fitted well with “enterprising youngsters” who had already built some jumps and tracks on the site and kept the place “clean and tidy”.
He explained he and colleagues were “unanimous” in their support for a joint project and are providing a small amount of funding to get it off the ground.
He said: “This will give young people fresh air and exercise, and the opportunity to work together as a team to build the track they want.
“Many villages have a problem with some young bikers, doing wheelies down the middle of the road and the like. We are not accusing these particular youngsters of that, but if there is somewhere young people can let off steam it has to be good for everyone.”
Mike explained the club will have a licence from the parish council to use specific areas of the land, a first aid kit will be installed and a system will be in place to clear up and dispose of litter.
Some of the jumps used by older children in the former quarry in Borough Green
But despite this, although Tony has spent hours clearing the land to make way for the club, without help filling the paperwork and social media support to market the club, he’s stuck.
He said: “I have land, licence and insurance but I just need help with the paperwork.”
Tony has memories of his dyslexia from an early age and recalls times the teacher would wipe the words off the whiteboard before he had finished reading because all the other children were ahead.
As a result, he left school two years before he was meant to because he says “the support wasn’t available for dyslexia back then”.
If you would like to help Tony, please call reporter Elli Hodgson on 01634 227800.