Newport’s SK8&Ride committee have hit back at suggestions the new facility is a “no go” area for residents because of youths drinking, causing fights and taking drugs.The row was sparked after a resident anonymously applied for police funding for CCTV at Norbroom Park and made the claims in their application.
In the application the resident claims the new £180,000 facility has lead to an “upsurge” in crime.
They wrote: “This facility attracts sometimes hundreds of people every day, sadly it has brought a large upsurge in crime and anti social behaviour.
“These problems did not exist prior to the skate park. A large number of the community are elderly and are beginning to feel vulnerable.
“The park, which was previously popular with dog walkers, has now become on most evenings a no go zone because of the anti social behaviour there including under age drinking, fights and other violence,drug taking and other similar activities.”
But Sk8&Ride Secretary Marc Simpson said this is a false image of young people thought up by a few unhappy residents.
He said: “Norbroom always had a reputation of anti social behaviour but since the skatepark this has stopped, the young people are proud of it.
“I go down there with my children and if I thought that was going on I would be the first to stop it.
“There are some residents who are just not happy about the skatepark and they have absolutely no proof of this going on. But I have proof that it isn’t going on.
“I went to the park with the council and we emptied out the bins and laid everything on the ground.
“There were thousands of soft drink cans and two beer bottles and two beer cans.
“So out of all of that, there were only four items of alcohol.
“I also asked the council worker if he noticed anything relating to drugs and he said ‘absolutely not.’
“This is just a few residents who do not understand young people or what goes on down there.
“That’s why this Saturday we are having a day for parents and adults to come and watch the young people on the park.”
Another resident also submitted an application with the same request for CCTV at the site, but only points out speeding vehicles as the main problem, and did not mention the other issues.