Beverley Town Council have been forced to close the Beverley Skate Park at Beverley Leisure Centre due to vandalism.
Criminal damage to ramps and fencing has the temporary closure of the skatepark to allow essential repairs to be carried out.
The closure follows an increase in anti-social behaviour in the area. Councillors met with officers of East Riding Council and local police to try and agree a way forward.
Councillor Margaret Pinder who attended the meeting and inspected the damage, regretted the loss of the facility for local youngsters.
“What we have is the destructive actions of a few individuals affecting a lot of young people who use the skatepark responsibly.”
“I spoke to some of them and they are clear it is a problem with people who don’t use the park, but like to hang out around the location.”
“It’s a shame that we have to take this action at the height of the summer when these youngsters are not in school and the facility is especially in demand, but it’s a health and safety matter.”
“We can’t put anyone at risk. Until the repairs are completed and the area is made secure again, we have to ask users to stay out of the skatepark.”
There will be another meeting in September to consider the next steps.
Councillor Paul McGrath, Chair of Beverley Town Council, spoke out against rumours that the council intends to close the facility on a permanent basis, he said;
“We need to be expanding our provision for young people in the town not reducing it.”
“This is an issue of anti-social behaviour and that’s what we need to tackle. It’s the vandals who should suffer the proper consequences of their behaviour, not the young people who use the park properly.”
