SKATEBOARDERS are fighting plans to extend fencing around the new skate park at the Harbour.
The Channel Islands Skateboarding Association say that the plans will cut emergency and disabled access to the park and remove needed public parking spaces. But Harbours, who are behind the plans, say that they have been told to put up the fence because of health and safety regulations.
It is not clear when the planning application for the fence will be decided, or whether it will be decided by a Planning officer, the applications panel, or Environment Minister Freddie Cohen. The skate park opened four weeks ago, after the States backed the harbour location despite the protests of the Harbours department.
Temporary fencing has been put up between the skate park and the roads leading to the New North Quay, but that too has created problems. On New Year’s Eve a BMX rider broke his leg at the skate park, but had to wait an extra ten minutes for an ambulance because of the temporary fencing, which had to be removed with bolt-cutters.
• Picture: The temporary fencing at the skate park. Picture by Richard Wainwright (00610478)
Article posted on 8th January, 2009 - 2.55pm
5 Article Comments
Oh well done health and safety, it didnt take long did it for you to get your oar in there. What would anyone do without you valuable expertise and decission making in this highly volatile life that we live!
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Figures. Give the people something and then health and safety get involved.
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Ah yes, the good old Jersey committee / Ministry system.
One committee / Minister puts something up and another comes along and fences it off or knocks it down.
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So Harbours have now thrown their rattle out of the pram and used Health and Safety to put up this fence. Give the kids and teenagers somewhere to go and the old fuddie duddies at Harbours start acting like kids themselves.
The fence is a risk as well so should be removed.
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Only in Jersey… This is a health risk – how is this still up ?
Not to mention that by going all the way around the Maritime museum, the floor will eventually get ruined.
Oh and not to mention its such a waste of space down there for parking now.
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