Skaters criticise facility

A skatepark in Southwell is in a worse state of repair than originally thought, according to the manager of the town’s youth centre.

Ann Robinson said youngsters who used the Nottingham Road facility had complained about its condition.

She told a Safer Neighbourhood Group meeting: “I have been talking to young people and they say they are not happy because of the skate park.

“I went to visit it myself to see what state it is in and it is quite dire.

“Only one ramp looks safe to be used and the others have got quite a lot of damage.

“Young people are saying it is unusable and not worth going down there.”

Ann Robinson, the Core Youth Centre manager, said those who attended the centre were due to put up graffiti-style artwork at the skatepark but had decided to delay the project because of its condition.

She said someone had painted warning notices on one of the ramps advising users to keep off of it because it was dangerous.

When an Advertiser photographer visited the skatepark, they found screws sticking out of the wood on the ramp that featured the warning message.

Southwell Town Council has approved plans to pay for the half-pipe to be repaired.

Town councillors consulted with pupils from The Minster School to see what repairs they wanted carried out on the half-pipe.

Boards have been removed from it so it cannot be used.

The Safer Neighbourhood Group chairman, Mr Peter Harris, also a town councillor, said they knew about the half-pipe but were not aware other equipment needed repairing.

He said he would look into the matter.

The council will help set up a group including skatepark users to raise money for its future upkeep.

Ann Robinson said youngsters from the youth centre would like to be involved.