STAR readers have been divided over plans to create an urban skateboard park near Chalon Way car park.

The Star reported last month when councillors agreed to the facility to be situated between the car park and Foundry Street, which the authority says will stop youngsters congregating in the Church Square area.  

Merseyside Police offered £65,000 to help develop the park and St Helens-based arts agency Heart of Glass pledged £30,000 towards the site's design.

A unit for skateboard retailer '51st Skate' could also be created near the park.

Senior councillors said the plans show that the authority supports groups like the skateboarders “who feel disenfranchised”.

The news was greeted with a varied response from readers, some pleased that the facility will give the youngsters a designated area.
However, others shared concerns over potential costs and questioned the authority’s priorities at a time the council’s purse strings are being tightened.

One reader, under the name CitizensSmith, wrote “So the council will maintain the site will they? How much is that going to cost?

“They have just got rid of four park rangers due to austerity cuts and yet they can miraculously afford to look after a site like this. Priorities all wrong.”

Meanwhile Highwithaview added: “I am not against facilities for young people, in fact I would like to see more but the town centre is not the place to locate a skateboard park. Talk about adding petrol to the fire.”

And sanct wrote: “Disenfranchised? Are skateboarders a race? Perhaps they're from the Island of Skate. Anybody know where it is?

“The only disenfranchised people here are the residents who are constantly ignored.”

However, others greeted the plans more positively.

Kd78 said: “Great news! Somewhere our kids feel safe and wanted. Lots of negativity toward the 'misfits' and they just want to be part of society. Granted there are the few youngsters who cause issues but they're not all the same.”

And SmileLikeYouMeanIt wrote:

“Zero pleasing some people on here. You moan about the congregating youths in the town centre and subsequent trouble/antisocial behaviour it apparently causes.

“You're the very same people who moan that you don't go to St Helens to shop because there's no shops there and you go to Widnes or Warrington.

“So, a solution is put forward to take the congregating skaters out of the town centre and put them in their own designated area so you can continue to not bother going to St Helens town centre in peace. You moan. Stop being so territorial and whiney about places you repeatedly claim you don't bother with anyway.

‘ToryTim’ added: “No problem with this give the kids something to do the problem lies with the drinking establishments not these lot. The town could do with the increased footfall of a few dozen skateboarders anyhow. I hope they enjoy it and i hope it used regularly.”