Having been in favour of the new skatepark I am shocked to hear that scooters are not allowed to use it. The attached picture appeared on Facebook last night, and I thought it was a hoax. However, I have spoken to Newbury Town Council this morning and it's for real. Apparently scooters will damaged the park whereas Bikes and Skateboards won't.
My son and his friends are absolutely devastated as they have been excited for months. We were all prepared to go for the "Opening Jam" and were looking forward to it.
I have subsequently spoken to Greenham Common Trust who funded a large proportion of the park, and they too were unaware of the scooter ban - despite their website saying the facility was available to scooters. They are currently investigating further.
A large proportion of skatepark users have now been alienated from this great new facility. What can you do ?? Who is going to police this ban ?
I see from Google that Maverick has built skateparks all over.
Maybe the thought behind the scooter ban is that often the users are much younger children than the ones the park has been created for. Perhaps it could be that the tots I see whizzing along shouldn't mingle with much larger and faster teens. It does seem that the ban could be better explained
Will there be an adult present to police heavy petting or is that just swimming pools?
The "official" line, at the moment, is that the scooter decks hit the top of the ramp and damage it because they are low to the ground. Please bear in mind the ramp is made from reinforced concrete with a steel rim....... and a scooter deck is generally made of aluminium !
If that's the case. Then what do they make of skaters who generally balance and slide across the rims using bolted on steal plates. Before kicking off again?
If that's the case. Then what they make of skaters who generally balance and slide across the rims using bolted on steal plates. Before kicking off again?
scooters were not part of the design process and did not raise any money.
yes they were part of a user group
the ban comes from parks built before Newbury being ruined from scooters, this was in between the user group starting up and the newbury park finishing.
The scooters cause damage on the concrete lips because they are low. Over time its gets worn away. This is fact, taken from other parks. its not metal on metal as paula and moon think
I get you are upset and its unfortunate for the kids how its turned out. they can still have fun with other things tho, alot of kids have already.
I get that greenham trust said scooters were aimed at, they shouldnt have to be fair but they did and untill tests from the park came, they were allowed.
hope this clears up any confusion and adds facts to miss terms.
There is always a good campaign of civil disobedience. If your kids and all their friends just wait till a week after it has opened and use their scooters anyway, and persist with it long enough. After a few calls the police will not care enough to keep taking time to police a few kids, when they are too stretched to even attend to a good chunk of the real crime going on. A month or 2 after the scooter users refuse to budge, wbc will likely slowly loose interest with other projects to screw up the town taking their attention.
If anyone is remotely interested, I have just started a petition to allow scooters to use the skatepark. I firmly believe this is a Scooter vs BMX matter and nothing more. I doubt anyone at NTC has a clue about the subject, and if Maverick Industries have built a park that is not up to the job, then it needs to be put right.
Furthermore Greenham Common Trust have, today, changed their website to exclude the mention of scooters.
scooters were not part of the design process and did not raise any money.
yes they were part of a user group
the ban comes from parks built before Newbury being ruined from scooters, this was in between the user group starting up and the newbury park finishing.
The scooters cause damage on the concrete lips because they are low. Over time its gets worn away. This is fact, taken from other parks. its not metal on metal as paula and moon think
I get you are upset and its unfortunate for the kids how its turned out. they can still have fun with other things tho, alot of kids have already.
I get that greenham trust said scooters were aimed at, they shouldnt have to be fair but they did and untill tests from the park came, they were allowed.
hope this clears up any confusion and adds facts to miss terms.
Do we know how many other places have banned scooters? Do we know how many other places allow scooters?
What age group are the scooter users. The concrete ramps were certainly busy tonight but what I thought was abit strange was them being open at all only a couple of weeks since a lot of the concrete was poured. It can't possibly have hardened off enough by now unless they are using a special mix.
I believe Richard Garvie met with the skatepark users ? What's your take on the matter Richard ?
I'm a bit annoyed about the way the whole project has been handled, but still welcome the investment the council have shown towards young people. I've seen scooters on the one in Spalding the other week, and there is a bit of damage so the people who built it certainly have a point. That being said, this is something that should have been made clear from the outset, not days before the official opening.
Unfortunately, it is the users of the park who will get caught up in the middle of the pro's, con's and misplanning. The various times I went to the skate park, I was highly impressed with all but one of the people I spoke to. They certainly increased their efforts to work with everyone who used the park, but I can't help but feel there was a lot of secrecy behind the whole thing, certain info being made available to a select few and the contractors have appeared to be rather poor (based on site security, standard of workmanship and now the lack of communication about what can be used on it and what can't).
I've said all along that I would ultimately like to see an indoor facility in Newbury / West Berkshire. In the short term, lets hope that those who wish to use scooters can be found somewhere to practice and have fun.
...lets hope that those who wish to use scooters can be found somewhere to practice and have fun.
IMO that isn't acceptable. If the old skatepark could handle scooters, then spending money on a new skatepark that cannot handle them is wrong. I have always been unhappy at the size of the development, but to hear that it also excludes a number of people who had used it previously is, frankly, crap.
During the cold snap this winter,I took a walk through Bushey Park, West London. I was amused to see large boards recently painted bearing a message from the Secretary of State for something or other. Anyway Dame Margaret Hodge. Onetime leader of the loony left Islington Council.
No the point is the folk who have built the skate park have put up a standard sign to cover their arses. A bit like practically every thing in supermarkets having a warning that the product 'may contain nuts'.
No the point is the folk who have built the skate park have put up a standard sign to cover their arses. A bit like practically every thing in supermarkets having a warning that the product 'may contain nuts'.
I often think this forum should have the same warning.
I'm a bit annoyed about the way the whole project has been handled, but still welcome the investment the council have shown towards young people. I've seen scooters on the one in Spalding the other week, and there is a bit of damage so the people who built it certainly have a point.
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Richard could you explain to me in further detail, the damage that you saw at Spalding and how it is incurred ?
scooters were not part of the design process and did not raise any money.
yes they were part of a user group
the ban comes from parks built before Newbury being ruined from scooters, this was in between the user group starting up and the newbury park finishing.
The scooters cause damage on the concrete lips because they are low. Over time its gets worn away. This is fact, taken from other parks. its not metal on metal as paula and moon think
I get you are upset and its unfortunate for the kids how its turned out. they can still have fun with other things tho, alot of kids have already.
I get that greenham trust said scooters were aimed at, they shouldnt have to be fair but they did and untill tests from the park came, they were allowed.
hope this clears up any confusion and adds facts to miss terms.
scooters were not part of the design process and did not raise any money.
yes they were part of a user group
the ban comes from parks built before Newbury being ruined from scooters, this was in between the user group starting up and the newbury park finishing.
The scooters cause damage on the concrete lips because they are low. Over time its gets worn away. This is fact, taken from other parks. its not metal on metal as paula and moon think
I get you are upset and its unfortunate for the kids how its turned out. they can still have fun with other things tho, alot of kids have already.
I get that greenham trust said scooters were aimed at, they shouldnt have to be fair but they did and untill tests from the park came, they were allowed.
hope this clears up any confusion and adds facts to miss terms.
I know that there is a novelty factor but the ramps have been packed out every time I have been by. It's a shame that the builders/designers didn't take into account wear on the concrete lip by scooters. I would have thought that it would be important that a section of the user community shouldn't be excluded but it's a bit late now. A metal lip should perhaps have been included in the design.
I know that there is a novelty factor but the ramps have been packed out every time I have been by. It's a shame that the builders/designers didn't take into account wear on the concrete lip by scooters. I would have thought that it would be important that a section of the user community shouldn't be excluded but it's a bit late now. A metal lip should perhaps have been included in the design.
You mean like a two way American bridge instead of single? A library roof that didn't sag? Cobbles that could take the weight of traffic? Less water extraction in Park Way to prevent Victoria Park cracking up...... etc. etc. etc.
I know that there is a novelty factor but the ramps have been packed out every time I have been by. It's a shame that the builders/designers didn't take into account wear on the concrete lip by scooters. I would have thought that it would be important that a section of the user community shouldn't be excluded but it's a bit late now. A metal lip should perhaps have been included in the design.
There is a metal lip in the design - a steel one, I think. Apparently it is the curves in the bowl that are the problem, as scooters are low to the ground there are certain points were they ground.
There is a metal lip in the design - a steel one, I think. Apparently it is the curves in the bowl that are the problem, as scooters are low to the ground there are certain points were they ground.
From seeing the park in Spalding, it's a similar design (if not a bit smaller) but there is damage to the concrete that looks a bit like scuffs, grooves and such like. I'm not sure this is all down to scooters, but I think this rule is in place here so that the maintenance costs are kept as low as possible and damage to a minimum.
The scooter craze is really new, not even been about a year, the park wasnt designed for scooters as they came about after the design and money was raised.
Richard, you are right there, spot on!, thank you for your input
Because scooters are so new and not designed for these parks, other skateparks are now enforcing this rule due to having to replace parts damaged by scooters.
Its not a case of poor quality concrete or other speculation by others on here.... the same people that cry and ask for fact when they get unsettled about something.
The scooters were not excluded from the design because they were not about in the years it was designed. The fact the average age of a person riding the scooter is 10 and the process of funding and design started in 2007 says alot.
All the kids that were riding scooters are now on bikes having the time of their lives!
over 400 people down the skate park over the course of Saturday...... Thats in one day....
I think the problem is that people riding scooters have been looking forward to riding it but during the build of newbury, other parks built around the WORLD have been suffering the scooter damage and its been decided to save the investment to ban scooters.
Scooters have been around for a lot longer than 4 years, so that's crap for a start. They started to become popular around the early 00s. I'd still like to know: what do you mean by 'raising money'? And were scooters 'purposely' overlooked?
Richard from this - I've seen scooters on the one in Spalding the other week, and there is a bit of damage so the people who built it certainly have a point. to this I'm not sure this is all down to scooters - so which is it ? the bottom line is you don't know for sure !
BMX'ers HATE Scooters, they say they get in the way. Same as Skiers hate Snowboarders.
Greenham Common is right, scooters have been around for years. Your mum (a BMX'er) is keen to portray scooterists as primary school children who are a danger to themselves and others, and goes as far as to say they should get a bike and have "the time of their lives".
I spoke, in some depth, to the owner of a large online skate supplier in the week. He doesn't consider scooters a "new craze", he considers them his pension fund. Whereas BMX's (and even more so skateboards) are dwindling in numbers, scooters are becoming big business. We are not dealing with £20 scooters from Argos, we are talking hundred of pounds and people are prepared to pay.
The majority of users in Thatcham are from Kennet School, so they are certainly over the age of 10 (14 in most cases - the very target audience this facility was supposed to cater for).
So lets get this straight - the skatepark users group (which included scooters) have now got a £250,000 skatepark which was designed in 2007 and didn't take into account the need for scooters to actually use it ? GTC funded a large part of this and were unaware that scooters weren't allowed to us it, until I told them last week.
Interestingly Maverick Industries have now removed their Facebook post saying scooters were banned. They have also failed to respond to my email asking why the ban.
Both my points are valid. I'm sure not all damage on every skatepark is solely caused by scooters, but it certainly contributes. I think the main reason for banning them is to keep repair costs down, but you are always going to get some wear and tear despite the equipment used. I think it's unfair on the scooter users to be banned now, surely this could have be better thought through at the start of the project. As I've said since this was revealed, to simply put up a sign saying scooters are banned is a little shoddy, as I'm sure the people who built it have known for a while that scooters would not be allowed on it. Why not mention it before construction started?
Paula, the best people to speak to are Newbury Town Council, as they would have to enforce the ban. Maverick simply built the project, and I doubt they will have any say in what equipment can use it other than tell you what the rules are that have been set by the council / user group. As someone pointed out, Dorchester allows scooters and I would say that the materials used to build that one are pretty similar? Your mum, what are the differences (if any) between Newbury and Dorchester?
the best people to speak to are Newbury Town Council, as they would have to enforce the ban. Maverick simply built the project, and I doubt they will have any say in what equipment can use it
Oh but they do. This will all be under some form of warranty, Maverick will not come back to carry out repairs, should any be needed, if scooters have been the cause of the damage, and NTC were expressly told not to allow them in.
Oh but they do. This will all be under some form of warranty, Maverick will not come back to carry out repairs, should any be needed, if scooters have been the cause of the damage, and NTC were expressly told not to allow them in.
Threep.
Interesting!!! Why would Maverick not enforce that at other parks they built though??? Doesn't make sense???
Oh but they do. This will all be under some form of warranty, Maverick will not come back to carry out repairs, should any be needed, if scooters have been the cause of the damage, and NTC were expressly told not to allow them in.
Oh but they do. This will all be under some form of warranty, Maverick will not come back to carry out repairs, should any be needed, if scooters have been the cause of the damage, and NTC were expressly told not to allow them in.
Threep.
Do you know this for a FACT Threep ? It was actually Maverick that erected the sign. Have NTC only been told this at the 11th hour too ?
This is a Photo taken from Maverick Industries Facebook Page posted morning. The photo's are of Dorchester Skatepark Opening Jam, and correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that a scooter in the background ???
Maybe because they have noticed how many repairs they are doing to existing parks....? They spend their lives designing, buiding and riding skateparks after all.....
I just don't get it, why would they do that in Newbury but not Dorchester or many of their other sites?
I can do no more than post these snippets from Maverick themselves.
Newbury Skatepark Scooters are constantly scraping out on all the Roll In's and banks causing gouges in the same spots, which then break up and crumble over time creating huge quarterly repair bills. Couple this with the average age of a Scooter rider being 10yrs old with no spatial awareness yet, it makes for a dangerous mix. Also ROSPA have inspected the park and passed it as a high risk facility as all Skatepark's would be. Therefore it is not a playground for very young children.
Russ 'Maverick' Holbert From our perspective it's more about safety of young kids, which we take seriously. The fact is that parents seem to be happy to leave their under ten year olds on scooters, completely unsupervised, without any protective gear, in what is an extreme sports arena. They have no spatial awareness, are too young to appreciate park etiquette and many are on toy scooters not designed for use in a skatepark. These youngsters are in real danger of being injured, as well as often being the cause of accidents. Taking scooters out of the park greatly improves the safety of what is already a high risk area (as confirmed by the RoSPA inspector). A skatepark is not a playground - and the skateboarders and bmxers deserve to be able to use the park without having to be scared of causing serious injury to an unsuspecting scooter kid - or as generally happens, sustaining injury themselves by having to swerve in mid trick to avoid one. There is probably a case for a separate, safer area for young scooter children.
Question from a user "have scooters been banned"?
Newbury Skatepark Yes they have. They damage concrete parks, so don't be surprised to see other similar parks follow our example.
This weekend the park has been busy! Scooter free, Loads of fun and seen easy over 500 people? The turf being ruined by people running up it ( mainly parents trying to pick arguments with innocent users over the scooter ban) and the graff are the only let downs.
Newbury Skatepark Can everyone stay off the newly laid turf on the steep banks at the back of the bowls please. If you wanna access the bowls walk on the concrete, or the grass will never take root. Thank you.
Maybe because they have noticed how many repairs they are doing to existing parks....? They spend their lives designing, buiding and riding skateparks after all.....
I understand that, but on the Maverick website, scooters are mentioned as being part of the "opening jam" for almost every new opening. Why is it just Newbury that haa this rule?
I understand that, but on the Maverick website, scooters are mentioned as being part of the "opening jam" for almost every new opening. Why is it just Newbury that haa this rule?
Perhaps NTC have been sensible enough to ensure that the constructors are responsible for maintenance costs for the first few years.
I can do no more than post these snippets from Maverick themselves.
Newbury Skatepark Scooters are constantly scraping out on all the Roll In's and banks causing gouges in the same spots, which then break up and crumble over time creating huge quarterly repair bills. Couple this with the average age of a Scooter rider being 10yrs old with no spatial awareness yet, it makes for a dangerous mix. Also ROSPA have inspected the park and passed it as a high risk facility as all Skatepark's would be. Therefore it is not a playground for very young children.
Russ 'Maverick' Holbert From our perspective it's more about safety of young kids, which we take seriously. The fact is that parents seem to be happy to leave their under ten year olds on scooters, completely unsupervised, without any protective gear, in what is an extreme sports arena. They have no spatial awareness, are too young to appreciate park etiquette and many are on toy scooters not designed for use in a skatepark. These youngsters are in real danger of being injured, as well as often being the cause of accidents. Taking scooters out of the park greatly improves the safety of what is already a high risk area (as confirmed by the RoSPA inspector). A skatepark is not a playground - and the skateboarders and bmxers deserve to be able to use the park without having to be scared of causing serious injury to an unsuspecting scooter kid - or as generally happens, sustaining injury themselves by having to swerve in mid trick to avoid one. There is probably a case for a separate, safer area for young scooter children.
Question from a user "have scooters been banned"?
Newbury Skatepark Yes they have. They damage concrete parks, so don't be surprised to see other similar parks follow our example.
This weekend the park has been busy! Scooter free, Loads of fun and seen easy over 500 people? The turf being ruined by people running up it ( mainly parents trying to pick arguments with innocent users over the scooter ban) and the graff are the only let downs.
Newbury Skatepark Can everyone stay off the newly laid turf on the steep banks at the back of the bowls please. If you wanna access the bowls walk on the concrete, or the grass will never take root. Thank you.
So, another bang-up job by N.T.C. there then.
Threep.
"Newbury Skatepark" consists of a bunch of BMX users.
Russ "Maverick" Holbert is from Maverick and makes NO MENTION of scooters damaging parks. Plus of course they cannot dictate who does and doesn't use the park. I particularly like their final comment "There is probably a case for a separate, safer area for young scooter children" - are they offering ???????????
Their use of the phrase "young children" is misleading. I am not talking about "young children" I am talking about secondary school children on stunt scooters - that were built for the job. Spot the difference............
Slightly goes back to a comment I made some pages ago before I was informed of the stunt scooters. On my morning walk to collect the Telegraph. (What else, I am a near neighbour of Boris. Most around these leafy parts sport the Guardian.)
The ritual is often interrupted by an unseen scooterista.( Slightly less worrisome than the mobility scooter.) 5 or 6 year olds off to primary schools.Parents have to carry them home and return at closing time with the said scooter. I think my point was that parents have to decide whether to allow their children to mix with bigger ones in a fast moving sport. It seems a sensible thought. Seems "Maverick" thinks so too.
A young niece who was pretty atheletic had to go through a rigorous check before she was allowed onto a treetop experience near my place in Norfolk. I know we belittle health and safety rules but some are sensible. ce
Maybe because they have noticed how many repairs they are doing to existing parks....? They spend their lives designing, buiding and riding skateparks after all.....
yes parttime ................... and you spend your time posting on radbmx.co.uk and mocking scooters.
Slightly goes back to a comment I made some pages ago before I was informed of the stunt scooters. On my morning walk to collect the Telegraph. (What else, I am a near neighbour of Boris. Most around these leafy parts sport the Guardian.)
The ritual is often interrupted by an unseen scooterista.( Slightly less worrisome than the mobility scooter.) 5 or 6 year olds off to primary schools.Parents have to carry them home and return at closing time with the said scooter. I think my point was that parents have to decide whether to allow their children to mix with bigger ones in a fast moving sport. It seems a sensible thought. Seems "Maverick" thinks so too.
A young niece who was pretty atheletic had to go through a rigorous check before she was allowed onto a treetop experience near my place in Norfolk. I know we belittle health and safety rules but some are sensible. ce
Christopher this has little to do with H&S and lots to do with tomcats marking their territory
You called me a BMXer.... You have all the facts in front yet you ignore them. You say it has nothing to do with H&S, well the facts got laid out as a H&S issue and you say its not?
If its not i can go and skate the slide with kids on because its public park....
You called me a BMXer.... You have all the facts in front yet you ignore them. You say it has nothing to do with H&S, well the facts got laid out as a H&S issue and you say its not?
If its not i can go and skate the slide with kids on because its public park....
See what im saying?
Rules are rules, they come in for a reasons.
I take your point totally, but I am not talking about primary school kids on lightning storms, I am talking about your age group that ride MGP's, Razors etc. Having visited lots of skateparks I have always been impressed at the way ALL riders take it in turns and don't evade each others space. I think an age ban (say under 12's) would have been more appropriate ?
you have to go for a total ban or people would have a go at you the same way your arguing this ban....
Ive been doing this since 98, traveled the world riding parks and street and only in the past 9 months have i seen scooters taking it seriously, ive yet to meet anyone old enough to buy a beer who rides a scooter either, so my age group is out of the question here haha.
I think it will have to mature a few years before you can say older scooter riders are not a hazard. Its taken Bikes roller blades and skateboarders over 20 years to learn to ride together, its all different movements, different lines of sight etc etc. same way you wouldnt play rugby and football and hockey on the same pitch at the same time.
you have to go for a total ban or people would have a go at you the same way your arguing this ban....
Ive been doing this since 98, traveled the world riding parks and street and only in the past 9 months have i seen scooters taking it seriously, ive yet to meet anyone old enough to buy a beer who rides a scooter either, so my age group is out of the question here haha.
I think it will have to mature a few years before you can say older scooter riders are not a hazard. Its taken Bikes roller blades and skateboarders over 20 years to learn to ride together, its all different movements, different lines of sight etc etc. same way you wouldnt play rugby and football and hockey on the same pitch at the same time.
You're obviously very passionate about what you do, and fair play to you ! But, I could argue that an 9 year old on a BMX is more hazardous than say a 14 year old on a Scooter ? That's why I think an age limit would be more appropriate.
yes parttime ................... and you spend your time posting on radbmx.co.uk and mocking scooters.
I don't think any of my posts on that site are of a particularly mocking nature, merely pointing out what was going on to people from out of the area that were interested in the skatepark (there's plenty of those out there). For what it's worth I do feel a little sorry for the scooter riders, back when I started riding BMX in the 80's no one liked us either. Still, chin up scooter kids (and parents of scooter kids) in 30 years or so time your sport may have grown, matured and been accepted enough to warrant lovely fresh concrete parks of your own from which you can ban BMX, Skateboards, Hovver boards or whatever else has come along by then.
You're obviously very passionate about what you do, and fair play to you ! But, I could argue that an 9 year old on a BMX is more hazardous than say a 14 year old on a Scooter ? That's why I think an age limit would be more appropriate.
Sorry to revive an old thread - but have some news (from Thatcham which is near enough ).
A new user group has been formed called Thatcham Skatepark User Group 2011 with a view to securing a new skatepark for Thatcham. If your children currently use the existing facility, or would do in the future, please join the group on Facebook for up-to-date information. You are also able to submit your own ideas
Sorry to revive an old thread - but have some news (from Thatcham which is near enough ).
A new user group has been formed called Thatcham Skatepark User Group 2011 with a view to securing a new skatepark for Thatcham. If your children currently use the existing facility, or would do in the future, please join the group on Facebook for up-to-date information. You are also able to submit your own ideas
People travel from Bristol, London, Southampton to Newbury skatepark.....what have you got in mind for Thatcham?
People travel from Bristol, London, Southampton to Newbury skatepark.....what have you got in mind for Thatcham?
Obviously Thatcham Skatepark would be nowhere near as grand as Newbury, as there aren't the funds, nor the population. The current plan is to replace the park, but utilise the existing base. Size is also limited as the existing park is on a registered village green, and the council have a duty to provide such green areas. Many children who use Thatcham are not old enough to go to Newbury unattended, or they ride scooters. Having said that, we would like to new facility to be a bit more exciting/challenging than the current model.
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