No surprises that the ongoing little local argument about the skateboards kids outside firstsite still hasn’t been resolved. The Gazette is running with a story that claims Colchester Borough Council has ignored the skateboarders, and that a petition with over three hundred signatures hasn’t been accepted by the local authority.
Rob Ellingham, of Colchester shop Double Cork has told The Gazette:
“I have tried to contact them three times since November, but we haven’t heard anything from them since then to now. It’s a long time. We really want to work with the council on this.”
Ever since firstsite opened up its doors in early September, the skateboard kids of Sunny Colch have found a new home amongst all the art. Car free and with plenty of ‘urban furniture‘ [urgh] to carry out all the rad moves – or whatever it is that the skateboard kids come up with nowadays – firstsite seemed like the perfect fit.
Except the Golden Goose at the back of the old bus station wasn’t designed for cool looking kids to jump off concrete steps from planks of wood with wheels attached. The firstsite square was put in place as part of the grand entrance to the building, opening up a swathe of pubic land for art lovers wanting an escape from the bustle of the High Street.
But as with any urban planning [urgh, urgh] the users often come up with a new approach to using the space. Saturday afternoon skate sessions outside firstsite seem rather well attended, and certainly liven up the area. firstsite needs to grow and find a genuine community use. If this means accommodating the skateboard kids, then so be it.
The safety of other users is crucial, but the times that The Chronic has rolled up to the Golden Goose (minus skateboard) we have found the kids are certainly aware of their surrounding and give the oldies a rite of passage. Plus there is the argument over what exactly constitutes art? The Colchester based Buffalo Tank recently staged an event outside firstsite, encouraging more public use of the firstsite square, and projecting artwork on a nearby wall for the skateboard kids.
As for the petition with over three hundred signatures? It is possible for any resident or group to address either the Full Council of CBC, or even a cabinet meeting, as part of the Have Your Say initiative. Only three minutes of public speaking time are granted per speaker, but you do get your audience with the civic leaders who make the decisions. An eyeball to eyeball with the Councillors that serve us is wonderful for the soul.
Skateboarding around the town is an issue that is now firmly on the agenda and has certainly got the attention of the CBC Planning Committee. The recently submitted application – by CBC – to build a new town square down at St Botolph’s was rejected, partly because of the consensus that the skateboard kids were being excluded.
Included in the St Botolph plans were some “non-functional benches” [nope, us neither...] that would have objects placed around the edges to try and restrict the skateboard kids from mounting them. Some members of the Planning Committee were of the opinion that if you present a challenge to the skateboarders, you are in fact encouraging more activity.
As for the solution for firstsite?
…over to the CBC cabinet that needs to give a clear indication, one way or another, what the official policy is on the skateboard kids. If they are allowed to continue to share the public space with other residents in the town, then safety and understanding is needed. If CBC comes down all heavy-handed, then a suitable, nearby alternative site is required.
Co-operation and common sense please.
* cos yeah, we’re like really RAD here at The Chronic, right?
4th Jan edit: Many thanks to Gary for sharing the superb Double Cork video, which helps to address some of the myths about skateboarding. Litter patrol – wonderful.
9 Comments
Great piece! An extract from my earlier musings on this subject…
…Skating is a massive part of Essex youth culture, and, after all, this is our Cultural Quarter, and this is, as we were promised, the community taking ownership of it.
What should happen is an open dialogue between Colchester Borough Council, firstsite and those who want to skate the square. Find out what they want from their Cultural Quarter and channel this positive energy into helping them lobby and fundraise to achieve it.
I think you’ll find, all they want is a co-designed, social space, not on the outskirts by leisure world, but in this area of town – where things are buzzy and happening and where they can be part of the regeneration too.
What’s the alternative? A bottle of cider on the park bench… I know what I’d rather see…
I think it is scandalous that there has been no provision for older kids anywhere. They could have put something into castle park – instead they are constantly telling the teenagers to move on from the little kids playground. We seem to forget that the needs of the older kids are really much the same as the littlies.
I like the fact the kids have been skateboarding outside firstite – it marks the place as modern and somewhere for everyone in Colchester. Skateboarding is an artform of its own kind. Along as people don’t feel intimindated by the groups of youngsters I don’t see what harm there is.
No matter what is built these days, if its slightly rideable, skaters will ride it.
The mere fact that skaters have taken to the smooth surfaces of Firstsite is a great thing – the council needs to take a step back and re-align their thinking. Skateboarding is a rebellious outlaw kind of activity only because those in power don’t understand it. It’s a great way to express yourself and to interact with your environment.
Skateboarding is what is, and no amount of ‘no skating’ signs or skate stoppers will stop skaters from skating anywhere. Enforcing any rules will only make it that much more of a place where people would want to go skate.
I agree with Mark, I’d much rather see a bunch of skate rats tearing around town than seeing the same bunch of lazy kids downing their cider on a bench.
Skate or die.
The first time I went to Firstsite I wondered if the outside area had been designed with the skate boarders in mind and thought at the time that it was thus a lovely inclusive place and a draw to people of all ages, however they want to use it. It reminded me of the eclectic mix one finds on a Sunday afternoon stroll along the Southbank in London. I don’t find the kids intimidating and they seemed perfectly aware of others around them and didn’t do anything that I thought would pose a safety hazard. It is a huge shame that some residents feel that a certain portion of our population be excluded from our public spaces. I personally would much rather that our teens be engaged in skating and free style gymnastics than in a hoodie huddle round the back of Tescos smoking weed and knocking back economy vodka and think that more areas designed with sympathy to the needs of our older ‘kids’ would help us all to integrate and not alienate.
I’m not a skater. But I enjoy watching the skaters do their thing. They are taking part in a sociable, skillful pastime. And for the most part, they appear respectful of the other users of this space.
Trying to move them on or exclude them would be unecessarily heavy-handed.
The skaters contribute to the vibrancy of this wonderful new area.
To those people who signed a petition, don’t forget what it is to be young. And don’t look for reasons to disapprove.
Dug out the little video Double Cork made about this issue.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDfpvRMpfOY
I’ve not wandered about that way myself (voting with my feet, I still think the goose should have landed elsewhere) but it’s great to see the debate about older younger (yep) people being raised in the town.
Many thanks for sharing this Gary. I’ve added the video to the original blog post. I had no idea about the skate litter patrol – great idea.
I think the skaters fill the space between the town and the golden temple. It’s just kids having fun, the same kids that eventually mature, and start visiting art galleries (hopefully). They are great at their artform, and only add to the whole ‘cool firstsite’ image. Nobody really minds them at all… I’ve watched old ladies and gents stand by and watch the kid’s stunts, with appreciative smiles and real interest.
300 people is really quite a small petition. It’s very easy to raise numbers like that when organized by a small strong core of anti-art types. They probably just passed the petition sheets around the conservative club.
Skate or die… or cycle… or walk!