A event to introduce kids to skateboarding was held in a square where skateboarding has been banned.
The Go Skate Day session at St Peter’s Square saw a pop-up skate part set up with ramps and skateboarding lessons held for anyone aged five and up on Saturday.
But the new city centre park has officially been a no-go area for skateboarders since autumn 2021, when signs were put up forbidding it, as well as skating and rollerblading.
The ban was implemented after neighbours complained about the noise – but there have been calls to reverse it, particularly as since skateboarders stopped using it, the area became an unofficial free car park.
However, despite the return of boards to the square on Saturday, the council says there are no plans to allow them to come back permanently.
Councillor Andrei Czolak, lead member for community safety, said: “The skateboarding event held at St Peter’s Square over the weekend was part of our annual TakePart initiative, which encourages residents to get active and try their hand at different healthy activities.
“It was one of a handful of planned skating events which are permitted at St Peter’s Church Square.
“While we recognise there is some desire to see the space used for skateboarding, generally skating in the square is not encouraged, to protect residents from excessive noise, and signs have been put up following requests from people living nearby.
“We suggest those looking to do so, should use the nearby skate park at The Level.
“The events which are occasionally permitted take place during the day when they are less likely to cause a problem.”
it’s sure better than the illegally parked cars that you typically find there.
Best be careful not to encourage too many fun activities that benefit the community or add to Brighton’s lively atmosphere, just in case the noise drowns out the sound of the traffic along the main road.
They weren’t illegally parked, it was used as an unofficial car park, for it to be illegal, signs must be in place.
If you actually go there and look, you’ll notice several “no parking” signs in the square.
Clearly, some drivers have the same level of perception as you, since they continue to park there.
Hi Hollingdean, thank you so much for your challenge on my post.
I will now challenge you on a couple of points.
The signage only went up a couple of years ago, but you are correct, there are ‘No Parking Signs’ in the square and I will get back to that.
Clearly, your knowledge of legal requirements in relation to signs is lacking, but to be fair, it’s not a requirement for all to understand all the small print unless you have a particular interest in it.
So lets look at those signs in more detail and explain the rules. There are rules that need to be applied to public Highways and Private land etc.
The regulations for parking signs in the UK are regulated under the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD), and have specific guidelines to convey accurate information to road users.
Unfortunately, these signs are not TSRGD compliant.
These signs are not official signs, it is accepted, these signs carry the correct symbols of a red circle with a diagonal line across it to indicate no parking. However, they should have a blue background not white. If you check the Highway Code and Know your traffic signs publications they will give you a clear understanding of what is required.
You may argue, this site is off road and local signage comes into play and you would be correct, however TSRGD rules still apply, further, there’s no plate indicating all the details that an offence is being committed and what enforcement and/or penalties are in place.
Therefore, the signs effectively mean nothing and it seems from your comments some drivers are aware of this.
For any parking sign to be legally enforceable, it must comply with the standards set by TSRGD, including the correct design, size, color, and wording. Failure to comply with these standards might lead to challenges regarding enforceability.
On a further point, there is no trace that I can find of the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for the prohibition/suspension of parking at this site. There can be several reasons for this.
1 Unable to find/trace TRO because of technical issues/errors on website.
2 Not granted by DfT
3 No TRO ever posted.
4 and more likely the case, that they hadn’t considered the impact when VG1/2 came on line. Traffic used to enter this area from East side they no longer can and I think BHCC have made a serious error and No2 applies above so they go ahead and go ahead anyway in the hope people comply.
As I stated above, until signage complies to laws they are NOT ILLEGALLY parked as you incorrectly stated.
Surely the councillor has answered his own question. Open it during the day during school holidays and closed it in the evening. Job done.
Anti-skateboarding sentiment always seems like such a contradiction to me, and a relic of a bygone era. The classic visual of someone like Mark Fry waving an angry fist in the air as some “yooths” skate past having a good time seems so outdated and belongs in the past.
Haha, we often get comments from a few posters telling us how bad it is that kids spend their free time stuck indoors behind key boards, with phones glued to their ears and kicking backsides on X-Boxes now a days or whatever it is.
Banning such activities as skate boarding in an area designed for activities is crazy in my opinion. Yes of course noise factors have to be considered, but seriously, there is a good distance between the area and residents homes and personally feel it wasn’t a major concern.
I’ve seen some skateboarders having fun in the gardens and they are quite skillful and interestingly I noted they stopped if any pedestrians were walking through unlike the arrogant, rude cyclist who found it necessary to shout and swear at a couple who were strolling through the gardens and committed the crime of being in his way.