Dangerous skateboard ramps still a problem

Press, 9 October 1979, Page 22

Dangerous skateboard ramps still a problem

Differences between the South Island Skateboarding Association and the Christchurch City Council have left skateboarders with two dangerous ramps at Thompson Park, New Brighton. The $ll,OOO council ramp was considered to be inadequate by some skateboarders and so they used parts of it to make their own ramp. The council ramp has been left riddled with protruding nails and is no longer used. The makeshift ramp beside it has sections of dangerous splintering. Both parties say the ramps are dangerous but accuse each other of

showing a lack of interest. The president of the Skateboarding Association (Mr P. M. G. Indbr) said the design of the council's ramp was bad because it. encouraged skateboarders to cross one another's paths. This was particularly dangerous for smaller children who did not have the skills to avoid collisions with more experienced riders. The association had repeatedly approached the. council but the response had been poor. The makeshift ramp was on council property and so the council should also be responsible for that. Skateboarding was most

popular during the summer. Unless the problem was solved Soon someone could be seriously injured. The council's parks and recreation manager (Mr A. J. Patterson) said that after a report in “The Press” of July 20 a carpenter had been sent to repair dangerous sections of the ramps. Skateboarding was most removed two large plywood sections from the council’s ramp and had added them to the makeshift ramp. “We have asked the association to discuss the matter with us so that we can sort it out, and we are still waiting for them,” Mr Patterson said.