Friday 1st October 2010

Residents and businesses near to a Chesterfield skate park are claiming they're under siege from youths who congregate there and cause thousands of pounds worth of damage and threaten staff.

The park, near to B&Q, was a flagship project for young people in Chesterfield but, after the firm building it collapsed, work stopped. Locals are now about to ask the Council to provide the funding to complete it.

Labour Member of Parliament for Chesterfield, Toby Perkins, has joined the campaign and met with Sergeant Paul Carrington of Derbyshire Constabulary and the store manager of B&Q, Keely Townsend, to discuss the problems. Mr Perkins also met 8 young skateboard enthusiasts to hear their views.

After the meeting with police and B&Q Store manager at the site Mr. Perkins said: "Everyone wants to see quality youth facilities, but this site design has failed to consider public safety. The site needs lighting and CCTV, it also needs draining. It is currently creating a lot of work for police and is a danger to staff and businesses. I have spoken with some of the youngsters who use the park and they realize that it will be closed if it can't be kept open safely. I will be speaking to the council urgently to see how this unacceptable situation can be improved."

Sergeant Carrington added: "We are doing everything we can to ensure the skate part is kept safe for the youngsters who genuinely want to use it for its designated purpose and members of the public.

"We are working with local business owners to ensure our patrols are carried out when they are most needed to prevent any anti-social behaviour taking place and ensure anyone misusing it is dealt with appropriately and swiftly.

"We are happy to work with the local MP to highlight the need for better lighting and CCTV in the area to help us police it more effectively and to make it a fantastic facility for the young people.

If anyone has any problems relating to anti-social behaviour on the skate park call your local Safer Neighbourhood Team on 0345 123 3333." 

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