Mayor responds to criticism over new ‘skate stoppers’ by Cenotaph

The installation of new metal ‘stoppers’ to deter skaters from using a popular city centre site met with anger from many on social media.

Among the accusations that the measures are a “waste of money” and unfairly target young people, there were also concerns the strips near the Cenotaph would act as a trip hazard for anyone who has mobility issues or is visually impaired.

Commenting on Twitter, Andy Parsons said: “My wife was tripped up multiple times by these as we headed to the watershed this week. No practical purpose and dangerous for anyone with even mild mobility issues.”

Responding to criticism on Wednesday, the mayor warned against binary descriptions of life in Bristol or setting people off against one another, saying the council is “trying to balance the needs of a diverse city”.

Marvin Rees said the new measures were not about opposing anyone’s hobby or lifestyle but ensuring everyone has access to the city’s public spaces. He said some people had found the area quite intimidating to cross due to the fear of skaters riding into them.

The council has stated the metal strips are being introduced in response to local complaints raising concerns about damage to paving, trees, planters, benches and the ground close to monuments.

Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, Rees said: “Cities are complicated. Sometimes interests bump into each other and one of those was that people felt the Cenotaph itself needed protecting and some people found travelling through that part of the city quite intimidating. Not in that they’re going to get attacked but they could get hit by people whipping around.

“What we have is a complicated city. Skateboarding and the cultural scene that goes along with it is part of Bristol’s identity, we recognise that and we’ve tried to make provision for skateboarders – there are lots of places that people can skateboard. We’re looking at bringing forward new skate parks up in St George’s with world-class facilities, but at the same time we get concerns raised by people who feel that they could get hit or don’t feel they have access to spaces anymore.

“Walking through the middle of that open area – if we are frank about it – can be quite precarious for some people because of the way it’s being used by some boarders. And that’s not a negative comment on boarders, it is just what is and means that it’s not accessible to everyone and so the action was requested and the action was taken.

“What we are not about here is opposing anyone’s spare time activity, hobby or lifestyle, what we are about is trying to balance the needs of a diverse city, to make sure that everyone has access to public spaces and feels comfortable in them.

“It’s a challenge and in this instance, we thought on balance this was the right action to take.”

Asked if he is confident enough has been done to ensure the city centre area is accessible to those with mobility issues, Rees said: “I think it is about listening to those questions but also not just serving them up to me but also asking questions back. How accessible was that part of the seats are wheelchair users and visually impaired people when it’s a skate park?”

He added: “We have we tried to uphold everyone’s interests, and at some point we, we have to make a decision. It’s not against anyone, it’s just to try to manage public space to make sure it’s accessible to as many people and as welcoming to as many people as possible.”

Rees said there are also many other places people can skateboard around the city centre, naming College Green and Lloyds Amphitheatre among the popular existing sites.

This area of the centre was once known as Magpie Park, named after the The Bristol Magpie newspaper, whose offices on Colston Avenue – photo: Martin Booth

Main photo by Jen Smith

Read more: Council installs more ‘stoppers’ to prevent skating near Cenotaph