Ports of Jersey, which own the site, have said that the closure of the facility is ‘temporary’ until they are confident that the area can be kept safe following an ‘increase’ in incidents.
CCTV stills released to this paper show youths clambering onto the Sailor’s Rest café before climbing onto scaffolding which currently encases the Jersey Maritime Museum warehouse complex. There have also been incidents of park users running in front of passing traffic in the area.
However, despite the closure, Ports has also pledged £50,000 to relocate the skate park to a more ‘appropriate location’.
This is not the first time concerns have been raised over the safety of the facility. In 2011, a video emerged online of a youngster leaping from the skate park’s fence onto the roof of a moving articulated truck as it left the former Ferryspeed depot.
A Ports of Jersey spokesman said: ‘Following an increase in the number of safety-related incidents in and around the skateboard park on St Helier’s New North Quay and despite improved safety and security measures introduced, Ports of Jersey has temporarily closed the facility until such time as it can be confident that the entire area can be kept safe.
‘Incidents have included debris such as concrete blocks, scooters, bikes and skateboards being thrown into the marina along with a number of “near misses” involving vehicles and skateboard park users.’
The spokesman added: ‘Ports of Jersey is working with interested agencies, including the Jersey Youth Service and government representatives to seek a long-term solution to these issues in the hope that the facility can be reopened. Ports of Jersey has also pledged £50,000 to assist with the relocation of the skateboard park to a more appropriate location.’
Gatis Valters, who uses the St Helier park on a regular basis said: ‘There were some kids on their school holidays on scooters causing the issues and now, as a result, the majority of users are suffering. It makes all of us look bad.
‘They are just being kids and not thinking about things. It has been open for about seven years now and I have not seen anything being thrown into the marina or anything like that.’
He added: ‘Personally, I think the current location is quite dangerous – there are always big trucks driving past.’
