Skateboarders spotted using Council House 'like it is playground'

“This debate is quite amusing, as some of the complainants are the same folk who championed the amount of money being spent on skate/bmx track at Bass Rec, Markeaton etc.
What some fail to realise is that some kids are more than happy to stay out of the city centre and hone their skills at the parks. The kids in the city centre couldn't give a monkeys are get more thrills out of harassing the general public. That said, making nice, flat and open spaces for them to annoy everyone, whilst providing little or no enforcement against such activities, will ultimately lead to upset.
The Council should either put some means of making the areas concerned 'skateboard' proof, or get someone to impose some kind of sanction that will prevent them coming in the first place.
I however bet that 'skateproofing' would be a safety hazard to both the skaters and the rest of the public and of council workers, and that enforcement would cost a fortune and be short term.
If anyone has some better, achievable ideas, then bring them forward. The rest of the general whingers (who probably never go into town anyway) should troll someone else :)”

“There are some right ars#holes on here that want to get a life and let others get on with there's.
I grew up with 3 brothers and a sister and we had next to nowt, but we never went without food clothes etc.
Most of the people on here just remind me of the nosie good for nothing do as i say morons of the 60's and 70's don't have a childhood brigade.
I go down town Derby when i can and go where ever i choose, its not Bagdad as some of the #icks would have you believe on here.
ARE YOU LOOKING OUT YOUR CURTAINS.”

“Proudbrit
I'd love to see a skateboarder, as you say, using a bus to jump, that would be some skill to jump a double decker on a skateboard, with only a small 'mobility' ramp as a run up, that would surely see Derby represented at the X-Games or some Red Bull sponsored event
I suspect that you, like many other contributors here are vastly over exaggerating the issues
Such over exaggerating does not help either side of the discussion”

“Lampie 87, i presume that's your year of birth. Granted not all skateboarder's/Bmx rider's have foul abusive language. but from my Experience 99.9% do. I also agree with the placement of said tracks being where they are. But that is the failing of the council to police these area's. Where have the Park Wardens/ranger's gone. But for them to use City Centre Building's,seated area's and place's designed for shopper's to have a rest, as a playground is out of order. There is also the fact that opposite the bus station entrance near the disability shop. They use this to gain speed + use the Traffic (mainly Buses) of which i am a driver, to jump flip and speed off. Maybe you could Volunteer to be a mediator without your Skateboard/Bmx on your person, then let's see what attitude you get of them?”

“No skateboarders or anyone else shouldn't be able to cause so much damage to something but should the skate parks and BMX track not of been built in a safe place? These areas were not made unsafe by the parks built but from what I remember I was always warned to stay away from these places by my parents when I was younger. The 3 parks provided aren't in the safest places for 'kids' to go around playing and ProudBrit1, not everyone that owns a skateboard or BMX will throw verbal abuse in your face, some may yes but people from all walks of life will.”

“Maybe the opening of the new council house will take the "boarders" away from our business buildings!!! For the past few years we have put up with our steps being damaged every weekend, we are just down the road from the old police station. We have called the police regularly and they no longer want to know. When they are not damaging the steps they are over on cathedral green trashing the seating put in the other year. Frustrating when there is a perfectly good skate park on bass rec for them!”

“Derby tom all high + mighty i cordially invite you into town, and walk near the council house across at the memorial garden then through the morledge, then if you have survived go past the bus station + cross the road to the skate park. Open your eye's + see what damage they cause. You try and talk to the skateboarder's/bmx bandit's and ask them to stop wrecking the centre? maybe you will learn a few more course disgusting words including some towards female members of your family much is unheard of by modern mankind. As with a car/motorbike a skateboard/bmx bike is as good as a deadly weapon. so crawl out of your cotton filled softy life + go out + see what life is like on the street's of lovely Derby.”

“Amazing how some commentators here seem to think being young is an excuse for wrecking the city! The council has spent £200,000 on a skate board park on Bass's Rec, and has paid thousands for another at Markeaton Park, with thousands more for a BMX track at Alvaston, there is no excuse for causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to public property by irresponsible use of skate boards, BMX bikes and other activities that have designated places provided for them.

When I was young we were taught to show respect for public property, vandalism would result in serious consequences, including prosecutions and fines. We would never even consider riding our bikes or scooters on public footpaths, neither woukd we dare walk on the grass in a park where the signs were clearly marked "KEEP OFF THE GRASS".”

“I am not for skate boarders causeing damage to peoples properties or anyones properties.
Thats why i say talk to the skate boarders in the first place and find a compromise.
And if they are spending 28 million on a velodrome which is only for certain people who can afford light weight bikes than i say stop the project now.
I am all for the velodrome but if it is not going to be build with everybody in mind haveing fun rideing there bikes then stick it where the sun don't shine because soon as you take the fun out of sport it falls dead in the water.”

“Derbytom, Would you let these kids being kids use your newly built garden wall at Great cost to yourself. As a play area? No you would be straight onto the police to have them removed. They asked for a skate park + they got one, Also at a substantial cost to the Council Tax payer. It's bad enough having a local Councillor having a no bin collection day, then you trying to justify these skateboarder's will full damage. No wonder DERBY is viewed as an eyesore of the Midland's.”