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 SKATEBOARDERS in Paarl and Wellington will not be able to jump for joy - not yet, that is.
Although land adjoining the BMX cycling track near the Berg River off Market Street has been earmarked for skateboarding, no-one is coming forward to establish the track.
The green light was given by the Paarl Municipality after months of petitioning by local skateboarders for "a place of our own".
With no allocated area, shop and property owners are becoming increasingly frustrated with the skateboarders in streets and on pavements.
Articles and letters in the Paarl Post resulted in a huge reaction by the growing number of skateboarders and the public.
Suggestions put to the Municipality resulted in a planning committee recommendation regarding the establishment and the managing of a skateboard park.
It seemed as if the scheme was on track, but an estimated R120 000 would be needed to develop the facility.
The Municipality offered to lease the site to the Lions Club for R100 a year. Conditions were that the Lions would have to manage the facility and carry the costs for the provision of facilities, such as toilets. They will also have to provide fencing for safety purposes.
The skateboard park will be open between 08:00 and 17:00 daily.
However, says Paarl Lions Club president John Clift, the project is grounded.
"There are too many loose ends," Clift said. "We cannot take the responsibility, nor can we carry the cost. Also, the hours set aside for skating are not practical for schoolchildren."
Meanwhile the Wellington Lions Club were also given the go-ahead to build a skateboard facility on a park on the corner of Genl Hertzog Boulevard and New Cross Street.
The Municipality has recommended that the site, adjoining the Huguenot Primary School, be leased to the Lions at R10 per annum for five years.
Surrounding owners will have to grant permission and the Lions Club will have to carry the cost of the fencing, toilet facilities and the implementation of safety and security measures.
The activities at the park will be restricted to daylight hours.
Says Melcus Nel, Wellington Lions president: "We cannot comply with conditions like building toilets, but the process is still going on."
According to a Municipality spokesperson: "We are waiting for a report back so that we can make alternative recommendations.
"We must not give up on the project. A skateboard park will have tremendous benefits for Paarl and Wellington. It can even become a tourist attraction."
The young skateboarders have the last say: "It might already be too late in the day for our generation to ever have a place we can call our own." |
