“Sick” new facilities for skaters

Friday 13 March 2015

Both youngsters and police officers will be “stoked” to see that the skate park in the Millennium Town Park is here to stay.

A temporary skate park trialled last year by the Jersey Youth Service has been a big hit and helped ride out anti-social behaviour in that part of town.

Now the Service is investing in some new gear to make the skate park a permanent feature in the park’s ball court area.

Transport Minister Deputy Eddie Noel said: “There is a balance to be struck between creating an exciting, good-quality skateboarding facility for young people and ensuring that the park’s other users are not inconvenienced. In creating this new facility, following consultation with relevant agencies and the users themselves, I feel confident that we have achieved this aim. The Town Park is valued by the whole community and it has been our priority throughout this project to respect that.”

Education Minister Deputy Rod Bryans said: “Here is a good example of responding to young people's needs whilst being respectful of local residents’ concerns. It appears this provides a successful solution.”

TTS will also be adding more new features at the Bath Street end of the park to deter skaters and make sure they stick to the skate park.

St Helier Connétable Simon Crowcroft said: “I am pleased that long-standing commitments to include facilities for skateboarders are being honoured by TTS, and the St Helier Youth Committee’s financial assistance with the new facilities will be appreciated by its users. However, it is important that the message goes out that the front steps of the Millennium Town Park cannot be used for skateboarding as this is dangerous for passing pedestrians and road users as well as causing considerable nuisance for nearby residents.”

(picture credit: Danny Romeril)