Honor Oak Drop-In Surgery with SPAG

On Saturday I, along with the Joan, Sandra and Dan, Cllr Robin Cross and Joan Ruddock MP, were at the Honor Oak Community Centre for a ‘Saturday Drop-In Surgery’. The purpose of this event was to provide an opportunity for residents in Telegraph Hill to raise issues, views and opinions about any matter of concern to them. It was busy and there were many people with issues ranging from immigration to housing. One particular issue caught my attention and that was a local action group named SPAG (Skate Park Action Group), who want to bring a skateboarding park to the streets or open space in the ward. They had already secured £1000 funding to do a feasibility study and were discussing with Joan Ruddock and the Labour Action Team, the best way forward and seeking our support. Now I can hear some people say: it will cause anti-social behaviour, or it would generate too much noise, or it will encourage teenagers to cause trouble. A bigger voice may be: not in the park!

I would just like to address some of those issues. Firstly, it is because young people often have nothing to do that they hang around the streets. Secondly, the skateboarding park in Peckham shows that this trouble does not happen. Thirdly, the police support it. Fourthly, it would be a small and well designed park, accommodating between 10 to 30 people.

However, there is no getting away from the fact that it could cause some noise, that the people skating there have to be considerate to the needs of the residents and that the place is secured and maintained. Therefore, location would be an essential part of getting full support. Joan Ruddock emphasised that the group need to overcome the objections of those people effected by it and I am inclined to agree.

Furthermore, it has also been muted that one of the best locations for the skateboarders would be in the upper park (Telegraph Hill Park). This would not be my favoured location, though I am willing to be convinced otherwise, and I am sure, some objections would be voiced over this site. Therefore, the group will soon publish a list of favoured places and would seek support from residents.

I really do think this is an excellent idea and a great facility for the ward. It must however, be placed in the right location, be well designed, maintained and secured with appropriate opening times. The ward assembly identified more youth provision as one of its key priorities. This idea would fit into this priority and as such has my complete support.