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Southbank Skatepark in London to be turned into more cafes and shops

http://www.change.org/petitions/lambeth-council-southbank-centre-boris-johnson-arts-council-england-stop-the-relocation-of-the-southbank-skate-park
http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/shutting-down-south-bank-skate-park?utm_source=vicefb

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/apr/12/skateboarding-south-bank

It's criminal that a place which is important for many young people and one of the few places in which they can socialize and skate in London is going to close for another unimportant and overpriced London cafe. Do hipsters and soulless city workers who probably go to soulless holes like Pret and Slug and Lettuce really need another cafe?

Reply 1

sevchenko

Its a shame really, now kids are going to be skating on public buildings and getting ASBO's for it

Reply 2

FuzzySheep

A real shame, it's a great space. I don't understand why they would do this, it's very well used and there are usually lots of small performances there for tourists etc.

Reply 3

Isambard Kingdom Brunel

I agree, it's a shame.

However, there are many BMX tracks in East London. The skaters don't need to be scaring away the lucrative tourists in Central.

Reply 4

Democracy

Original post by Isambard Kingdom Brunel

I agree, it's a shame.

However, there are many BMX tracks in East London. The skaters don't need to be scaring away the lucrative tourists in Central.

Is there any evidence that this is the case?

In fact, every time I've been down South Bank way I've always noticed that far from scaring anyone away, the skaters/BMXers actually tend to attract quite a big crowd of interested tourists - they're not yobs, they're enjoying themselves and providing entertainment for passers-by. Nothing wrong with that at all!