News / bristol city council
Council installs more ‘stoppers’ to prevent skating next to Cenotaph
Skaters have reacted with anger at the installation of more strips of metal known as ‘stoppers’ that aim to prevent them skating.
Dozens of new stoppers have been installed next to some already in place on an area of the centre close to the Cenotaph that skaters call ‘the plaza’.
Two areas between the war memorial and Electricity House are currently fenced off to prevent damage to the new stoppers, or skate strips.
is needed now More than ever
Some people have already criticised the stoppers as being trip hazards.
Others have suggested that seeing as Bristol City Council are trying to prevent skateboarding in this popular area, they should now provide a suitable alternative.
This area of the centre was once known as Magpie Park, named after the Bristol Magpie newspaper, whose offices were on Colston Avenue – photo: Martin Booth
A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: “The skate strips are being introduced in response to local complaints raising concerns about damage to paving, trees, planters, benches and the ground close to monuments.
“The area around the Cenotaph is a well-used public space and thoroughfare in the centre of the city and it is important that it remains safe and accessible for all our citizens.
“Sadly, despite our best efforts and most of the people using this space respectfully, street furniture in the area continues to be damaged.
“Whilst we are not seeking to exclude anyone’s use of this area, we are aiming to ensure that the space is used respectfully by everyone.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQOD-hXFYgU/
On Reddit, nthanonuser wrote: “The ‘stoppers’ have been installed in lines across the plaza essentially quartering the space. They don’t and won’t stop skating, the council have just created a large number of trip hazards in the centre of town (at great expense) in an effort to stop free play. So incredibly lame and pointless. No money for youth projects, homeless projects etc etc but +£20k spent on installing this rubbish without even a discussion. Bristol council are criminally awful.”
lazylazycat wrote that the city council “should be embarrassed about this. I guess it’s another part of Marvin’s plan to clean up the centre to make it as attractive to outside investors as possible. Sanitise the city of its culture and sap the centre of its character and life. One step closer to becoming London2.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read more: ‘All Lives Matter’ protesters ‘defend’ Cenotaph in Bristol
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
