CAMPAIGNERS opposed to a new £750,000 skatepark say it will be the biggest of its kind in the country.
Issues of antisocial behaviour, excess noise and an increase in traffic have been raised by local residents in Saughton in what are believed to be hundreds of objection letters to Edinburgh City Council.
Campaigner Cathy Rush, who lives close to t
he proposed site, said: "The council is trying to pass this off as a recreational play area, but it is going to be the largest skateboarding park in Scotland, hosting competitions and people from all over the country.
"There is already a lot of antisocial behaviour and this skatepark is going to be unsupervised.
"This is going to be open potentially until 10pm, but the toilets are only open for four hours a day. Parking facilities are also already inadequate.
"The council should be repairing basic necessities in the park, but a lot of local residents say they feel it is a fait accompli."
The proposed facility for Saughton Park has been designed for use by skateboarders, BMX riders and inline skaters, and it was hoped the skatepark would be open by next summer.
Sunk below ground level, with special "anti-skate" surfaces on surrounding paths to stop skaters from straying outside the facility, the 70m by 30m park is to feature ramps, rails and tracks, as well as a viewing area for members of the public and artificial lighting.
Edinburgh City Council is confident the skatepark at Saughton Park will be widely welcomed.
City sports leader Deidre Brock said: "When we ask communities about what's needed locally, top of the list comes facilities for young people, and that's what we want to provide.
"I have received a number of comments that are very supportive of this proposal, because I think most people see how valuable a top-quality skatepark will be for the young people of our city."
But consultation on the planning application for the development, which runs until October 31, has revealed some opposition to the proposals.
May Simpson, who lives near Saughton Park, said: "There have been 520-odd objection letters that we know of.
"We are objecting because it seems to be the last resort after Inverleith and the Meadows wouldn't take it.
"The big issue we have is antisocial behaviour.
"They tell us it is for local kids, but it is for skateboarders. There will be a lot of traffic.
"
Addressing concerns raised by residents, a council spokesman said: "Edinburgh is the only major Scottish city without a skatepark, and Glasgow, Dundee, Perth and others tell us that they have seen a positive impact on local areas and a reduction in antisocial behaviour – that's why police are supportive.
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The full article contains 462 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
