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Skatepark will have to go

1:20pm Wednesday 21st November 2007

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A LOCAL skatepark will have to go but more money could be spent on its replacement, skaters and BMX riders were told at a meeting last night.

Councillor Chris Mote, leader of Harrow Council, told the Byron Skatepark Users Association the current facility at Byron Park, off Christchurch Avenue, will definitely be demolished.

He said: "The existing skatepark will have to go - I have got to make that absolutely clear.

"We will never please everyone all of the time, this is not utopia, but we want to take an approach that is fair to everyone."

The skatepark will be demolished to make way for a new leisure centre and replaced with a new facility on a different location in the park.

Members of the users group told Cllr Mote the existing park would cost more to replace than the £300,000 the council has already promised.

They have also said health and safety restrictions might prevent the council from rebuilding the current park to the same design.

Mark Langston, a BMX rider who lived in Harrow for 34 years, said: "On the old concrete you don't slip. The new parks are made out of polished metal or polished concrete that's screened and shined.

"There are a lot of things in that skatepark that the Health and Safety Commission do not agree with but we've been riding it for years."

He added: "There are people talking about this meeting in America because they do not want this site to go."

But Cllr Mote hinted more money could be made available if needed.

The users group suggested a number of other sites for the centre but all were either already up for sale, too small or were privately owned.

James Hitchcox, head of the users group, said: "I just think that 30 years ago, when the park was built, they went to so much effort to make skateboarding a part of our culture and I really hope they do that again.

"It could be a piece de resistance."

The meeting was held to help Cllr Mote and council officers work with skatepark users in designing the new facility.

What do you think about the skatepark? Leave your comments below.

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Your Say YourHarrow Times

chris, harrow says...
3:17pm Wed 21 Nov 07

agree a site and build a new skate park before demolishing the exiting one. Why should biker and boarders loose out.

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Stevey, Northolt says...
11:05pm Wed 21 Nov 07

You need to encourage skating as a pastime for young people.
Whats the other hobby for the teens of Harrow? Street crime and drug use.
You can not take it away without immediately replacing it.
Saying that, I know that scum have been targeting skaters in Harrow recently, so get some CCTV as well.

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Cllr. Paul Osborn, Harrow says...
1:00am Thu 22 Nov 07

The plan is to build the new site before closing the old.

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hitcherbmx, harrow says...
2:03pm Thu 22 Nov 07

Its surely a crime to have just gone ahead with the decision of putting the new leisure centre on top of the skate park with out talking to the community and the user group first. I think the councilors know they have made a mistake by getting the architect to draw up 1 set of plans and then thats final before talking to the community. no secondary plans are an option? On the plans i saw at the meeting i saw no space for a skate park or gym in there designs ? Change isn't always the best thing, imagine no classic cars classic buildings classic paintings classic anything that you hold dear to your heart. Harrow skate park is a part of us, us being the skateboard and bmx community, It would be destroying something of real beauty and history. lives have been created and shaped at harrow skatepark.

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John Dale, Tucson, Arizona USA says...
2:46pm Thu 22 Nov 07

The municipality in question should consider two things very carefully. First, there should be NO disruption in service. For riders who treat this sport like a religion, it will be damaging to their psyches not to have a place to ride. Second, are there really any absolutes? This municipality prematurely committed to a particular design without consulting the user group. This is not the user group's mistake, yet Mr. Mote seems to think the user group rightfully bears responsibility for his mistake. This guy reminds me of President Bush and his republican croanies. They believe that saying something over and over makes it true, too.

The answer is simple. Use common sense! This concrete is ALREADY IN THE GROUND. Design around it, and devote half the money you'd spend demolishing and reconstructing to EXTEND the existing facility while preserving the history!

Sincerely,

John Dale
RedEndo BMX
Tucson, Arizona USA

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Michael, Rusk, Texas says...
4:22pm Thu 22 Nov 07

alrite, what i dont get is, if this was George Washingtons house or something, no matter how messed up it was, we would keep it.. or if it was something to do with a war, or space travel, and was old.. we wouldnt demolish it... but keep it.. so why cant skaters and bmxers get to keep something that has been around since the beginning of our sport?? i think the park should be saved!!

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danny, USA says...
4:49pm Thu 22 Nov 07

why would you not build the leisure center where the new park would be? is it too small? then the new park would be smaller, too. that sounds like a loss to the BMXers and skaters from that area.

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joseph, harrow says...
7:39pm Fri 23 Nov 07

i think this is very unfair on all of the riders that use the park also the park shouldn't be demolished because its the only place in harrow were you can go to have fun every where else is flats and houses.since the park was built in 1976 its always been nown as a great park and its always in magerzines.we love to ride there because its so different and we have to take care of it,the bouls are always flooded the concil have never once sent someone down to clean it like the halfpipe which has been flooded for well over a month now. please don't demolish the skatepark

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Steviee, Canterbury says...
1:17am Sat 24 Nov 07

the park is great, its become a must on almost all bmx and skate tours that go anywhere near the area, nowhere else can you ride such a sick park, you could just build 2 buildings for hte leisure centre, one where it is now, and where you wanna put the new park, another one there? or at least give like £1million, maybe then they can create a good park which might just about make the new park somewhere near as good as the old one, but never better.

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Peter Frade, Norfolk says...
1:33pm Sat 24 Nov 07

Cllr. Paul Osborn wrote:
The plan is to build the new site before closing the old.
I hope this is true, otherwise you should be humiliated in Public. Most people in the public sector lie to achieve their goals, I hope you are different...but I will not hold my breath!

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NAMS, Stanmore says...
7:00pm Sat 24 Nov 07

you might think you're going to knock it down and we won't mind because you are building a new, 'better' facility for us, but we'll be there skatin the bowls when you come with your bulldozers, we're not gonna let you knock it down.

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NAMS, Stanmore says...
7:07pm Sat 24 Nov 07

you suck

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UNKNOWN, HARROW says...
7:39pm Sat 24 Nov 07


Surely you cant demolish this park, it is one of the most famous skateparks in the whole of the UK and it is known throughout the rest of the world. Skateboarders and BMXers come from miles to come to this park. This skate park is in skateboarding History.

It is an extremely stupid idea to get rid of it, if it happens, just you wait and see what becomes of Harrow.
YOU ARE GOING TO DESTROY OVER 30 YEARS OF BRITISH SKATEBOARD HISTORY!

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Sean, Harrow says...
8:03pm Sat 24 Nov 07

Harrow skatepark is a part of skateboarding and bmxing history at 30 years old, Its one of the most individual parks in the world! Locals skate there every day and still enjoy skating there! I f u change it ull ruin it!

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Jack burton (local skateboarder), harrow says...
8:13pm Sat 24 Nov 07

i think that you should leave harrow skatepark alone and maybe put ore CCTV camera's in i have been threatened by the scum before and i hope that u either get rid of the scum or put more CCTV's in and if you in sist on building it anyway i hope that you do build the new skatepark first or you will have alot of complaints on your door step but whatever you do don't make it out of meatal

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liam, harrow says...
8:13pm Sat 24 Nov 07

harrow skate park, is a icon, people come from all round the country to skate it, m a local skater, u can't knock it down, its history and herritige, u might as well go knock down the big ben,if you want to destroy herittage,

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Parisa.A, Harrow says...
8:47pm Sat 24 Nov 07

It's unfair to demolish something so treasured to young people down. I can name about 20 people off the top of my head that go there almost everyday.
Honestly, total unfairness.

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freyja, Harrow says...
8:48pm Sat 24 Nov 07

The Leisure centre should suffer just because of a skate park?! I'd advise people to be more sensitive about what they say, I'm not surprised that there are already groups forming against this project. Such as the myspace group http://www.myspace.c
om/official_save_har
row_park
This park has sentimental value to so many people, and people want to take that away to build a new leisure centre, right next to the one we already have. Excuse me for not seeing the point. The Skate Park is a place for young people to go, the council is gradually getting rid of all free places for young people to go. It's just asking for more problems with 'loitering' and gangs of yobs hanging around!

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Bevv, 140 Headstone lane says...
9:01pm Sat 24 Nov 07

that is SO unfair.

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amber, harrow says...
9:38pm Sat 24 Nov 07

completely unfair, theres nothing in harrow for teenagers to do as it is!
some of my best friends skate at that skatepark and taking it away will be like leaving them with nothing to do besides turn to crime.

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Bubble, Harrow says...
9:42pm Sat 24 Nov 07

This is Sooooo unfair! There isnt many places for skaters & bikers to go as it is, demolishing another would be totally unfair to all of them. you can build elsewhere :]

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sina, says...
10:30pm Sat 24 Nov 07

RETARDS! go on build another basketball court there so somalians can ahng out there and rob people!!!!!

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Kieran, Harrow says...
10:48pm Sat 24 Nov 07

this place has alot of history and a lot of sentimental value to the british skate scene. theres no other park like it and should be kept.

(also to the people commenting about scum and somalians in basketball courts, do you really reckon this campaign is going to be taken seriously with you lot writing that.)

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KJ Goren (Local), Harrow says...
10:51pm Sat 24 Nov 07

I agree with Danny from USA...you people have got to be joking, you've already found a **** space for the new skatepark, then why not build the leisure centre there, are you guys seriously that dumb??? Heck if you build the leisure centre at the space you've found, you won't have to waste money on the new skatepark....DUUH.
I will join Nams and everyone else and skate while you approach us with your bulldozers and whatnot Good Luck and I hope you make the right decision...SAVE HARROW SKATEPARK.

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KJ Goren (Local), Harrow says...
10:57pm Sat 24 Nov 07

By the way did I mention that this skatepark was rated as one of the best concrete skateparks in London...heck maybe even in the whole of the UK.
Check with the Extreme Sports channel peeps. 10/10 by Death Skateboards.

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ian, Harrow says...
11:15pm Sat 24 Nov 07

I would like to urge the council not to redevelop the site of Harrow skatepark. This facility is of great importance to many of the young and not so young people of Harrow. It is one of the last remaining 70's skateparks in the world and it would be a great shame for this to disappear. People travel from far and wide to skate and ride at Harrow skatepark. The money available for this redevelopment could be spent on upgrading the current facilities. Never get rid of this skatepark. If the council was to build a new skatepark it might end up like many other modern skateparks around the country. It is good for Harrow to have this world-renowned attraction.

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ian, harrow says...
11:29pm Sat 24 Nov 07

in other words - WHY EVEN THINK ABOUT KNOCKING IT DOWN YOU WILL GET NOWHERE SO MANY PEOPLE WILL PROTEST IT WOULD BE CRAZY TO KNOCK DOWN SOMETHING AS GOOD AS HARROW SKATEPARK. the leisure center is fine i was in there last week. why not spend your £300,000 pounds on putting the flood lights on, digging up the performance bowl, resurfacing the ground in places putting up cameras and fixing all the drains? that might make some people happy rather than annoying almost every skater and bmx rider in the country!!!

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John, Uxbridge says...
12:05am Sun 25 Nov 07

Harrow skatepark has history, ive been skating there 10 years and there's still people there that were skating 20 years before me.
It's the only local park that i enjoy skating. the council have a habit of building these poorly designed 'black metal' parks without consulting the skaters /bmxers .

To me Harrow skate park is a land-mark, it's truely unique , it should be preserved. I don't see another Leisure Centre being a worthy reason to destroy an historical place that still brings so much pleasure to so many people ..
I agree, the money should be spent on making the existing park a safer environment for the people who use it

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Adam Apostate, Harrow Weald says...
12:13am Sun 25 Nov 07

yeh, ok, demolish it if you demand, then dont **** hassel skaters and biker on the street. cant skate here, dont grind this and that... its not a **** money profit business expanding for the surrounding area or anything, its a "confiend space" where we can express, so demoslish be you demand, but as we stand saying **** OFF to you, tryin to sweep us off your perfectly skate crafted streets, and let us breathe the street, OTHERWISE, leave us this space, which we call home and not much, but Harrow Skate Park.

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KJ Goren (Local), Harrow says...
12:16am Sun 25 Nov 07

Well Said

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Lee, Harrow says...
11:12am Sun 25 Nov 07

To demolish Harrow skate park is to demolish a cultural center for all harrow youth, it has served the community in a way in which the Wealdstone community centre did before its demolition and poor replacement with no out door facilities. How do the council or the government expect to keep youth obesity and crime down? Is it this councils agenda to alienate its youth and push them into an anti-social life style, leading to more problems for the bough down the line; Wealdstone's crime level is already above the national average! But seriously Cllr Mote is it really your intention to destroy a beacon that has attracted world recognition, boosted tourism, put Harrow on the map, served the community for 30yrs and kept Harrows youth involved/engaged in a productive sport which has got international skaters/bmx'ers representing Harrow and the UK on the world stage as a direct result of Harrow skatepark.

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Peter Frade, Norfolk says...
11:30am Sun 25 Nov 07

I have an idea, I am sure that most will agree.
Let's build the new leisure centre where the Council Offices are currently situated.

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Alex Reeve, says...
8:58pm Sun 25 Nov 07

how about mr mote takes his plans and burns them. harrow council neglects our park, and now expects us to co-operate with them as they demolish a piece of history and a skatepark people know and value. do we really need some more facilitys that allow old people to keep fit. use your common sense or there will be fierce opposition

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REEVO, North Harrow says...
9:00pm Sun 25 Nov 07

i hate you all

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Owen Williams, Bushey says...
10:23pm Sun 25 Nov 07

hitcherbmx wrote:
Its surely a crime to have just gone ahead with the decision of putting the new leisure centre on top of the skate park with out talking to the community and the user group first. I think the councilors know they have made a mistake by getting the architect to draw up 1 set of plans and then thats final before talking to the community. no secondary plans are an option? On the plans i saw at the meeting i saw no space for a skate park or gym in there designs ? Change isn\'t always the best thing, imagine no classic cars classic buildings classic paintings classic anything that you hold dear to your heart. Harrow skate park is a part of us, us being the skateboard and bmx community, It would be destroying something of real beauty and history. lives have been created and shaped at harrow skatepark.
As a user of the skatepark of roughly 15 years i'm so angry that these plans are going ahead and the council would do this.
it just goes to show how cluelss they are to the amazing piece of history we have and draw to Harrow for young and old from not just the local areas but from all over the world!
i couldn't aggre more with the comments of Hitcherbmx!

I will do all i can to Keep the park there for another 30 years at least, So other people can enjoy such an irraplaceable peice of heritage and gain valuble life experience from it (that the whole culture of the sports practiced there give). I only wish the people in charge of this had a place of the same value to understand how much it means to so many people.

Oh and i dought the new leisure center will be free?!

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dan, west london says...
11:16pm Sun 25 Nov 07

Why offer to leave comment when they don’t listen to what anyone has to say. When the council/government makes up their mind something will be done it gets done.. For example the third runway, they will build it because it will make money, even though people have been protesting for years and they will have to take out a whole village and relocate hundreds of families to build this stupid thing… I guess if the park lined these fat cats pockets it might have a chance of staying..
Well it looks like the park will eventually go and there will probably be another crap metal park put up in its place (if you are lucky)…. It’s just a shame there’s some dick sitting in an office that make these decisions that effect so many lives and so many people and doesn’t give a stuff... I guess people better get their last runs in now before some fat **** turns up in a bulldozer to start knocking stuff down…. Good times and good memories is what we will all be left with...

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Carina, harrow says...
11:18pm Sun 25 Nov 07

Harrow council have tried to demolish the park in the past and failed, they've been trying to get their hands on the site for years for one thing or another, yet they still dont seem to grasp what an important place in the community it is.

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pete briton, Ruislip says...
11:37pm Sun 25 Nov 07

No matter what we do we are going to lose an amazing skatepark because all councils around the UK are the same, they all make empty promises!. They say "we have agreed to spend £300,000 on building a new park". What a load of bull, we all know whats going to happen, a council park will replace harrow. They always find an excuse for why the original plans could not be completed! its happened to me before! Ruislip skatepark was supposed to be a very good park, Plans were made and some guy even had a virtual tour on his laptop of what the park would look like and it was amazing, we had afew meetings and all was going well we thought we were winning but no out of the blue they started constructing a metal council park without any notice!! Dont trust the council they are full of lies!!!!!

as if the council will all of a sudden cough up £300k! they couldn't even get the flood lights connected properly for f sake! im a trainee electrician and i could do that myself!

The council dont care what we have to say they will just do what they think is best! so unless the council stick to what they are saying expect me to be laying in the bowls on the day construction starts, whos joining me?


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Matt Rehm, Hampton says...
1:02am Mon 26 Nov 07

I'll be camping in the pool if they try to come and demolish this amazing iconic park.

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myles chapman, austrailia says...
7:31am Mon 26 Nov 07

ive just recently moved to australia but used to ride harrow skate park when i was back home and would be utterly disapointed if the council were to demolish it

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michael beckman, says...
4:52pm Mon 26 Nov 07

harrows got to stay with out it i dont know what i will tearn to. It seems to me that there are other places to go and skate but none for free or if so not worth the time to travel to

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ninja, says...
5:03pm Mon 26 Nov 07

ive beeen waiting all these years and finally there going to destroy it hurray been skatin there too long the ground is a joke one day there and your board is completely destroyed no skaters really use it anyway just bmx riders that destroy it even more.
I think a new park with fresh concrete would be perfect and youd get more skaters comin from all over the place like when they rebuilt camden dont listen to the bmxers.
back in the 70s the scene was full of skaters and some still come back for a quick cruise but then the bmxers came in like squatters and there aint enough room for skaters anymore.
the state the park is in a depressing state when it rains you get pools of water all over the place.
My only advice to people who have the power for the next park is make a plaza if you dont know what that is then you shouldnt be working on this project anyway ltrs. ps skatelondon

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Caroline, says...
9:22pm Mon 26 Nov 07

look think about it this way it gets many people off the streets doing things they shouldnt be out of sheer boredom..
yeah you say that you will replace it..but your taking away something that is loved soo much by everyone that skates/bmx or visits there..
they might not even want to ride in the new park..which will probably just get vandalized

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PISTACHE CLOTHING, LONDON-BIARRITZ says...
10:24pm Mon 26 Nov 07

AFTER THEY KNOCKED DOWN KNEBWORTH AND STEVENAGE O.G. CONCRETE PARKS... THIS WAS ALL WE HAD LEFT... DON'T KNOCK IT DOWN AND BUILD SOME BORING NEW PARK LIKE THEY HAVE EVERWHERE ELSE! THIS IS HISTORY!

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John, Uxbridge says...
8:15am Tue 27 Nov 07

I don't think anytime should be wasted trying to stir up animosity on here between skaters and Bmxers...It's not an issue of tribalism, it's about trying to save the park.
Plenty of people still skate Harrow, as far as i can see the skaters & Bmxers get on well together..

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Ed, Harrow says...
2:26pm Tue 27 Nov 07

the words here have been twisted, if harrow goes, we'll destroy the borough!

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mark, harrow. says...
2:32pm Tue 27 Nov 07

it would be suicidal for the council to remove the skatepark.. as the skateparks community is alot bigger than the council thinks..

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neil, harrow says...
4:28pm Tue 27 Nov 07

i used to skate harrow. my time there was great i met alot of new people that i never even thought i would. its a good community you have BMX'ers, skaters and people that are there to watch and learn. gettin rid of the park would distroy skate/bmx history. the concil complain about youth's doing nothing all day and just makein the streets trouble so why are they takin summink away from them. its just going to couse more problems because where will the skaters/bmx'ers go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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hitcherbmx, harrow says...
4:37pm Tue 27 Nov 07

I think ninja lives in a bit of a dream world. The user group is going to try and save the park to the end, but if it is too late we are not going to have just a skate plaza we are going to cater for all types of skating bmxing , with every type of obstacle for all abilities. Skate London and carry on getting tickets by Westminster council.

James

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joe fox, london says...
4:52pm Tue 27 Nov 07

if you want to keep kids off the streets, and have possitive area where future generation can be creative. leave the park where it is. whats the point of destroying local history???
the park gives kids a sense of achivement.

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michael, horsham sussex says...
4:58pm Tue 27 Nov 07

do not destroy harrow! it is a monument in the bmx and skate community.
it is doing its job well at providing a safe and friendly atmousphere for people to hang out.
harrow is non-replaceable as a skatepark!

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ben, harrow says...
9:19pm Tue 27 Nov 07

how comes the council are building a new leisure centre when there is one only SECONDS away from the skatepark???
why dont they just extend or re new the old one you dont need to destroy a place which keeps so many people out of trouble on the street.

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niall, croxley says...
8:14am Thu 29 Nov 07

when i hurd it was gunna be domolished i was so bummed because i leart most of my tricks there and made so many friends r.i.p harrow :(

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NAMS, sTANMORE says...
11:04am Thu 29 Nov 07

Heres the facts:
1. 'Ninja' is a knob, if he ever used the park properly then he wouldn't be asking for a 'street plaza', he would be campaigning to save an iconic piece of world skateboardng history like the rest of us. carry on skating london street thats fine but dont use the idea of harrow being demolished for your own needs as a skateboarder.
2. HARROW IS ON THE LIST OF PLACES TO SKATE FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD, USE THE SPACE YOU WOULD TO BUILD US A NEW SKATEPARK AND BUILD THE LEISURE CENTRE THERE. THIS WILL SAVE YOU PLENTY OF MONEY THAT YOU SO PATHETICALLY NEED AND WILL SAVE A MONUMENTAL SKATEPARK FOR MINE AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. USE A SMALL AMOUNT OF THAT MONEY ON ADDING TO THE EXISTING PARK AND BUILDING OVER THE GRASSY AREAS.
3. demolishing the skatepark will inevitably lead to an increase in incidents such as that of the 'young man' being assaulted inside the park, if you get my drift.
4. we need this place as it gives thousands of people of all ages pleasure unimaginable by the likes of you councillors.
5. REFURBISHING THE EXISTING SKATEPARK WILL DEFINATELY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF USERS AND CUT DOWN ON THE AMOUNT OF SCUMBAGS AND SOMALIANS WHO SEEM TO THINK IT AN ADEQAUTE PLACE FOR THEM TO HANG OUT.
!!!! THEY DONT BELONG THERE!!!!!!
6. THERE ARE LEGIONS OF PEOPLE WHO HOLD THIS PARK DEARLY, WE WONT HESITATE TO TAKE DESPERATE MEASURES IF YOU FOOLISHLY DECIDE TO BUILD OVER IT!!!



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pile of ****, harrow says...
12:57pm Thu 29 Nov 07

<a <a href="http://www.msp
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tobucket.com/albums/
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1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

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james mclean, london says...
12:56pm Fri 30 Nov 07

it is a disgrace when historical sites are underminded by councils looking to line their pockets with a new 'leisure facility' these plans to destroy this symbolic skatepark are an outrage, i am losing faith in this country altogether! there should be mass protests on a massive scale from the people against the money men! long live harrow skatepark!!!!

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Paul H, north london says...
10:53pm Fri 30 Nov 07

Here's a thought: Harrow is one of the last 3 remaining 70's parks left in the Uk. There was once many more but they were all 'dozed at the end of the first 'craze'. The skate park is historically significant and culturally relevant. I have heard of other less worthy bits of concrete being listed. Trellick Towers??*!

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toby smith, hemel hempstead says...
10:48am Sat 1 Dec 07

ARE YOU SERIOUS?you can't close Harrow, it's has been a breeding ground for talent for 30 years and the reason for this is because its awsome. i am not a Harrow resident but i am an avid user of the park and not once have i been there and the park been empty. this park has seen the transsition from the old skool to the new skool and many of the greats including Tony Alver have graced the concrete mianders of this skateboarding haven.
To round off, Harrow skatepark is a bit and influencial part of not only British but world skateboarding heretige and to lose it would be a huge mistake. we don't need another lesure center, their, talent isnt discovered, chavs are bread. please don't get rid of Harrow, ive learnt so musch there it would be a classic bad decission made by non skateboarders who think they know about the sport, this isnt football were talking about, this is a highly skilled passtime and must not be underestimated. thank you for reading... do the right thing

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H, harrow says...
11:24am Sat 1 Dec 07

You say you want to take an approach thats fair to everyone how is that fair to the people who use the skate park every day.This world isnt safe enough for people to travel else where to ride or skate.Get your priorities straight

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Tim Leighton-Boyce, Streatham says...
12:16pm Mon 3 Dec 07

I was at the park on the day it was opened with a demo by Tony Alva and I have been many, many times since.
The park certainly has a huge significance in the early history of skateboarding. It is one of the few (only?) survivors of the first generation of commercial concrete parks from the 1970s. It also served a crucial function as one of the few parks which were available during the dark years of the 1980s when skateboarding was assumed to have 'died'.
Although I'm delighted by all the facilities available for skaters today, many of the provided by public authorities, the current generation of parks are fundamentally different. They also might well not be here, had it not been for the existence of the places like Harrow which nurtured skating when it was most needed. In terms of skate culture, the park at Harrow is a national treasure and no replacement will compensate for the loss of such different and challenging terrain.

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NAMS, harrow says...
4:26pm Mon 3 Dec 07

OFFICIAL PETITION:
http://petitions.pm.
gov.uk/HarrowSkatePa
rk/

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Ben Jones, Ipswich and Cambridge says...
4:45pm Mon 3 Dec 07

I am appalled at what I have just read. I find it difficult to believe that Harrow council is proposing to get rid of something that is a)vital to the local youth culture in the area but b)this park has had a serious shaping and effect on UK AND US skateboarding. It is world famous! They just don't make them like this any more. Harrow skatepark has past into legend and should be treated with a bit more respect than it being regarded simply as a place where young misfits hang out. What happens if they get rid of it? What will be next? there are only a few parks like this left in the UK- Harrow, Livingston, Romford and Southsea. Will the irresponsible and poorly plan actions of Harrow Council send out the message to other UK councils that it is acceptable to spend the taxpayers money on REMOVING effective and useful amenities for the community and then replacing them with INSUFFICIENT ones? This is a very troubling story and everyone should do everything in their power to oppose the parks closure.

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val, teddington says...
6:40pm Mon 3 Dec 07

I can't believe they want to get rid of this legendary skatepark! There are hardly any good parks to ride in London, me and my boyfriend normally end up driving out all the way to Horsham, or even further. I hope they don't replace it with metal ramps, people who don't skate aren't normally clued up about ramps and don't understand the difference. Just look at Kingston skatepark, it used to be a really good wooden ramped park with loads of lines, and now it's small ramps and only really has two lines which cross each other in the middle over the jump box. Skateparks are also hard to come by and people travel quite far to ride/ skate Harrow, whereas Leisure parks are absolutely everywhere. I guess at the end of the day it's about money, what a shame. Good luck Harrow! xval

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Toffee, Bath says...
11:38pm Mon 3 Dec 07

leisure centers = chavs, chavs = fist fights/knives/muggin
gs/shoplifting/home brakeins= u the council looking like fools!...(is that what you want..i dint think so..)
one thing the public need to realise is what skateing/rideing etc.. means to the indaviduals! its NOT trying to show off to people...its NOT about getting sponcered and becomeing pro.... its NOT full of ''grungee gitters'' like you may of described them 10 years ago!
riding/skateing is ALL about FUN its a lifestyle! and you cant take peoples ''lives'' away from them! they are happy!.WE are happy!

keep the park where it is.. and give the skaters/riders the opertunity to have it improved in the way they want.. not you.....or random ''ramp building'' companies... you should be focusing on the only non destructive social genre out there! (build the lesure center in the new park location!.. it will save you money..)

let me end with this... when you were younger did you ever have a passion.. and i mean a true PASSION! and it got destroyed..? if so it would be evil to do so to the people you are responsable for!

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Terry Woollard, Redbourn, hertfordshire says...
9:33pm Tue 4 Dec 07

This is one of the best skateparks in the local area. It takes over an hour for me to get there and its really worth it, as when i get there i never want to leave as its so much fun. I've been going there for 5years and i'd want to be going there for another 25 more years.
A replacement park weather made of concreate or not would not be the same, and if a replacement park is made of metal, like many new skateparks these days i strongly believe that it wouldnt get used as much and definatly wouldnt be worth traveling for over an hour for.
Please keep the park and keep the users and possible futrue riders happy and let them enjoy their youth and also their later years of riding or skating.

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Adrian Wyatt, Pinner ex Harrow says...
11:29pm Tue 4 Dec 07

If they want a new leisure centre there, let them build it around the existing skatepark - make it the centrepiece.

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NAMS, harrow says...
4:46pm Wed 5 Dec 07

OFFICIAL PETITION TO THE PRIME MINISTER:
http://petitions.pm.
gov.uk/HarrowSkatePa
rk/

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Kirk, London says...
12:45am Thu 6 Dec 07

I also agree, worst case scenario, if they relally have to knock the existing skate park down please, please, please ensure that a new very similar park is fully built, soo much of our economy depends on bike sales, skates, skate boards, all this would be affected by closing one of, if not, the greatest feeling skate park ever built.

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Gem, Wealdstone says...
12:45pm Thu 6 Dec 07

When I was younger, i visited Byron Park frequently with my family. Now that I am older (18) my parents are reluctant to let me go there. I think that to destroy the skate park would have a huge effect as it is a past time we all know and love. I would rather the children of today have scabby elbows and knees than mugging people in the streets. :)

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Amy, Watford says...
11:34pm Fri 7 Dec 07

What does every one in this country moan about including Harrow council and the government: crime, gangs, violence, drugs and alcohol. Councils and the government also like talking about giving back to the community and giving young people somewhere to go and enjoy themselves as well as staying away from crime. Harrow Skatepark is that place! So my question is; why on earth do you want to get rid of Harrow Skatepark? This is a great place for people of all ages to go where they can BMX, skateboard, rollerskate or like me sit on the memorial bench watching my boyfriend and his friends ride their BMX'S. That's a point what will happen with the memorial bench? I bet the council havent even thought about that! Harrow skatepark, no matter what the weather or who's there, is a great place to be. I just cant understand why the council want to get rid of it! There is aleady a leisure centre there so why cant they just refurbish it!! I dont think the council actually get the whole BMX, skate thing...maybe they should come down one weekend and sit and watch. I am pretty sure they will enjoy it and will see what a great place it is for people! So please, give everyone what they want, and thats Harrow Skatepark!!!!!!

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Matt Smith, Watford says...
3:40pm Fri 21 Dec 07

http://blog.defgrip.

net/archives/1924#mo

re-1924

This link is to an american website.Check it out...
The skatepark is part of our heritage and has been like a second home for so many people, if it goes then a piece of history will be lost forever...

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chase, Scotland says...
9:02pm Sun 6 Jan 08

I think it's bang out of line, there's plenty of room to build the leisure centre elsewhere. truth be told i rekon the council don't give a toss about skaters and would be happy to see it gone.

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sam, harrow says...
5:39pm Sun 27 Jan 08

Harrow Council has absolutely no right to demolish this skatepark, the council protects historical sites, and harrow skatepark has as much culture and history as any of the others. A new leisure facility can be build almost anywhere, yet a lengendary site like this is irreplacable.

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David Kelly, Kenton, Harrow says...
7:35am Sat 2 Feb 08

Well done Tony Hawk for raising the profile of Harrow Council's disgraceful plans to demolish the skatepark.
What nonsense to suggest that Harrow Council cannot come up with a design to redevelop that site and preserve the skatepark! If that is the case, perhaps the Council needs to consult better designers!
When will the Council understand that people do not want a new skatepark-they want the original to be preserved? The plans to demolish the skatepark does not just rob Harrow's young people of a much loved recreation facility, it robs all Harrow people of an important part of the town's heritage. The fact that internationally renowned skaters like Mr Hawk have even heard of the skatepark is evidence of its cultural importance.
When the Council of the 1970s commissioned the skatepark, I doubt many of them thought that skating would remain as popular as it has over the last 30 or so years. But the Council back then was happy to invest in the borough’s young people. It was this kind of foresight which made Harrow such a great place for so many of us to grow up in the1970s and 80s.
The Council of the 70s maintained recreational facilities instead of letting them go to rack and ruin. Look no further than the shabby public tennis courts around the borough, for evidence of appalling under-investment!
It strikes me that the Council seriously underestimates the depth of feeling surrounding this project. People under the age of 40, that have grown up in the borough do not want to see this happen. I would be interested to know how many of the Council members that are pushing for the demolition of this site were born and bred in Harrow? I cannot believe that real Harrow people would countenance such a plan!
This Council has been a disappointment in so many ways since they were elected-they must start listening to their residents.

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Gareth Vaughan, Harefield says...
10:17am Wed 14 May 08

This is disgusting I have been using the park for 15 years and intended to keep on using it. The placed is busy all year and packed in summer. The counicl want to remove it as it is a free service thats all. I am sure they will make money off the new development.

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Byron skatepark will be replaced Byron skatepark will be replaced

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