From Michael de Petrovsky.
NOW the sailing season is getting under way, those who saw fit to construct a skateboard park in its current position, should face the fact they have created a monster – a monster which needs to be closed and re-erected on a site well away from the general public.

Somewhere on the seaward side of the new incinerator might be most suitable. Better still, though perhaps not practicable, would be on the roof of the incinerator itself.

In its present position, the park has nothing to commend it, though some ‘nannies’ would say its proximity to town spares our ‘geriatric’ youngsters the exertion of having to walk, skate or ride an extra kilometre or two to reach their goal.

On the negative side, the park has deprived boat owners and other motorists of 50+ parking spaces, with considerable financial loss to Jersey Harbours. To add to the problems for crews and visitors to the Maritime Museum or nearby café, who do not possess a harbour parking permit, the last few one-hour disc parking spaces, alongside the park, recently disappeared overnight.

Access to the marina from the parking areas adjacent to the park, has been blocked through the installation of steel fencing. This has cost the taxpayer tens of thousands of pounds. Again over reaction by the ‘nanny’ state.

Marina users and marina staff are frequently subjected to an excess of filthy and abusive language, for the park has become a gathering ground for teenaged yobs – hooligans who, at times, have broken into the marina and caused disturbances and damage.

Marina users risk serious injury from missiles, in the form of broken skate boards and other rejected material, being hurled over the fence and onto the pontoons beneath.

The States should be aware they are in for some costly damages, should anyone on the pontoons below get struck on the head – an accident waiting to happen. Litter is also a serious problem.

Anyone in the vicinity of the Marina Office or Maritime Museum risks being run down by youngsters who constantly flout the regulation that states all cyclists and skaters must dismount while crossing harbour property to, and from, the skateboard park. It would seem any attempt to enforce this regulation is met with a string of abuse and threatening behaviour, though not all the park’s users fall into this category.

A marina should be a place of pleasant and peaceful relaxation. The last thing anyone enjoying a quiet drink or meal in the café or the cockpit of a boat or carrying out maintenance wants, is to be forced to overhear foul language and the constant bangs and clacks of skateboards being driven into the ground.

Yet again, the decision makers have shown a total lack of foresight and a refusal to take advice. Anyone with a modicum of common sense could have told them the last place to build a skateboard park is alongside a marina. One would hope those responsible for this blunder will have the guts to admit their mistake and rectify it forthwith.

Bite the bullet, demolish and rebuild something far bigger and more adventurous well away from any areas that demand a bit of peace and quiet. Incidentally, it would probably be in most people’s interest if access to the park were banned during the forthcoming boat show.