From Michael de Petrovsky.
THIS week, I needed to carry out work on a yacht in the town marina. After parking alongside the recently constructed skateboard facility, I found access to the marina barred by a somewhat ugly, steel fence.

Consequently, I was forced to walk, loaded with equipment, all the way down one side of the buildings that contain the marina office, ablutions, Maritime Museum, etc and back up the other side. After carrying out this action some four times, I inquired as to on whose authority the barrier had been erected and for what purpose.

The answers were ‘the Sport and Education department’ and ‘to protect skateboarders from the danger of traffic using the New North Quay’, respectively.

Is this yet another example of an over-zealous nanny department asserting its myopic authority to the detriment of the general public?

The most ridiculous thing about the whole matter is, here we have a skateboard park that has already produced several damaged limbs and has all the potential for fracturing a few skulls in the coming months and yet excessive concern is shown over an activity of minimal risk.

If the hauliers who use the New North Quay are concerned about the danger arising from traffic, surely the answer is to insert, at appropriate intervals, studs in the roadway, as has been done on the approaches to the Elizabeth Harbour, thus slowing vehicles to a crawl while covering the stretch of road in question. Furthermore, it would not be difficult to provide a chained walkway using the bollards that run parallel to the buildings mentioned above.

The major shortcoming in all this is the warped vision of those responsible for permitting the construction of the skateboard park where it is. Anyone with a modicum of foresight would have foreseen the extent of the problems it is now causing. No doubt warnings were given, though, as is so often the case with the powers that be, the ignorant probably chose to ignore the informed.

Thus, we now have a facility that has resulted in a loss of thousands of pounds of now unobtainable parking fees for the Harbour authorities; a dearth of parking spaces for boat owners and visitors to the café and museum; an excessive deviation for anyone wishing to get to the pontoons; noise, disruption and potential disaster; and a pathetically small and overcrowded activity area.

Perhaps it is time to reconsider and construct another skateboard park, planned by a committee of skateboarders, bikers and roller bladers, several times larger, out on the Waterfront area or the reclamation site.

Observation would seem to indicate any new facility should have graded areas – beginners, intermediate and advanced. At present, we see young people of all ages and levels of skill, crammed into a small area with some trying to outdo others in carrying out various stunts.

Few wear safety helmets, let alone knee and elbow pads, and most seem unaware of the damage a short fall onto concrete can do. It might be cheaper for the States to provide protection rather than pay the hospital bills for treating fractured limbs and brain injuries.

Lest I should be misunderstood, I would like to point out I have nothing against skateboarders or the other users of the park. Having spent most of my working life introducing and training all sorts of people, from primary school children to members of the armed forces, in adventure activities, I feel contempt for the abysmal lip service that has been given to the needs of the young in this respect.
Le Sellier,
Rue du Rondin,
St Mary.