Reply to THIS thread
Start a NEW Talkback Thread
Talkback Home

Liphook Skatepark - George Adair (4th Jul 2017 - 22:04:52) I have just visited the skate park this evening to have a word with the group of young children and two adults ! (yes two adults !) Quite frankly I was disgusted that they were playing music loud and sitting up in a tree that is close by and the main party were sitting chatting, Now this was around 9-30pm. I had been visiting friends earlier whose property backs onto it and quite frankly the language was quite disgusting ! I approached the group and for a brief moment I was angry and asked them to turn the music down and as you can imagine got the usual grunts with under breath comments ! I asked one of the group in particular who owned the Speaker, "Why don't you go to your parents house, climb a tree and play your speaker and see what their neighbours would think about it ! Guess what the response was ! If any of the parents have an issue to what I did then contact me, I will leave my number at the end of this statement, I also found it hard to understand why a 19 yr old and a well known 18yr old would be hanging around with 10-13 yr old boys ! surely questions on that issue must be asked ! Anyway I am sure their stories on the incident will be totally different to mine ! I also had the backing of one of the residents who said he had asked them to turn the music down and curb the language 5 times and all he got was abuse ! My grandson uses this park and if I ever thought he was involved then he would be immediately banned ! This skate park is there for those that want to enjoy it not for those who want to treat it as a place where they can just create havoc and upset the residents who live close by ! I will be paying another visit to my friends house tomorrow and if it reoccurs then I will inform the authorities and let them deal with it ! The way those boys spoke to me was disgusting and if they were mine.............. well ! I bet they wouldn't speak to their parents like it ! Two boys in particular were quite verbal but then again who do you blame ? the parents or the boys, either way none will be at fault ! My Number 01428723348.

Re: Liphook Skatepark - Kate (5th Jul 2017 - 08:30:52) I witnessed this and can confirm Mr Adairs version of events. Some of the crowd were stood face to face arguing with this man until a neighbour intervened and shouted across the fence telling them to calm down and show a bit of respect. They were only asked to turn the music down and the initial disrespectful response from many was the cause of the fuss thereafter. I would say that whilst the skaters kept using the park after this the noise levels had dropped so many thanks to Mr Adair for the request and to the kids whom finally understood they were making too much noise. I don't know this man but he approached from the haslemere road which is 3 times the distance away from the skatepark than the new houses, so if he was hearing it over there which was built before the skatepark then it gives you an idea how bad it was. I don't see how it's reasonable that music is being played loudly from phones and little speakers most of the time, and I don't think any of you would like it if your neighbours were banging out tunes in their garden 6 days a week.

Re: Liphook Skatepark - B (5th Jul 2017 - 14:07:58) This is my pet peeve. When I suggested the bloody park should be ripped up and grassed over because of the anti social behaviour I was told I was being unreasonable as there is nowhere for the "youth" to hang out. Let's get something straight. I, and I'm sure others will agree with me have no problem with the kids using the skate park and having fun, make a bit of noise but there has to be line drawn where fun ends and anti social behaviour begins and in my opinion that starts at dusk when the younger kids go home and the older kids rock up and start playing loud music (usually shite sweary music) shouting and swearing this has gotten worse since the 16yr+ have finished school. For the last few weeks they have been hanging out until nearly midnight or later. This is extremely rude and with the hot weather having to close your windows and try to sleep in a sweat box because some rancid little tossers with their self righteous attitude think that it's acceptable to be that loud without thinking of the consequences of their actions and the impact it has in others is not acceptable but if you go and ask them to quiet down you get nothing but abuse. The last time I approached them I got the standard bollocks from them but unfortunately (luckily for them) I could not Show them errors of their ways with my maglight as this would be against the law. I heard the commotion last night but thought it was an argument between the kids, had I known it was some poor citizen getting the eff off treatment I would have interjected instead of closing my window to get some sleep.

Re: Liphook Skatepark - George Adair (5th Jul 2017 - 14:10:09) I just had a call from a very nice lady (one of the parents of the group of boys at the skate park) and I can say it was a pleasure to have received that call, I hope a few more call me and we can discuss through normal conversation on how to iron out this issue, its such a wonderful thing that when two people can sit and talk about such things, we begin to see the dilemma some of our children are confronted with through the actions of others. Thank you once again to that lady for listening to me as I did appreciate listening to you.

Re: Liphook Skatepark - another oldie (5th Jul 2017 - 16:24:25) George, You admit approaching a group of young boys "to have a word" whilst already disgusted and angry at them. From what I can tell they were in a designated play area on a balmy summers eve, playing. Sitting in a tree, made you angry. Playing loud music, made you angry Sitting chatting, made you angry Using bad language, made you angry. Their mix of friends, made you angry After approaching these children, whilst "angry for a brief moment" and telling them to go home and play, you seem a bit taken aback at their response to you! Now I don't know all the facts, you seem convinced they would have a different recollection to you anyway. But you're angle here seems to be that they are causing a public nuisance or breach of the peace. A criminal offence, (or just that the neighbours just don't like hearing noisy kids nearby!) We all know kids swear. It's modern, it's all over TV and it's wrong (in my oldie opinion) but swearing is in any event, not a criminal offence. Nor is skating in a skate park, playing loud music before nighttime (usually considered post 10 or 11pm by police). Nor climbing a tree (highly recommended for kids), nor sitting around a tree chatting. What were you mad about? If it was the breaking of village social norms: a) We're no longer a village b) Social norms are a matter of opinion and changing culture nowadays c) Calm right down before approaching to chastise, or you're part of the problem! We always hated a cocky oldie with a bee in his bonnet, it ain't gonna help in this day and age, the days of PC Green and a clip round the earhole are long, long gone Anyway, glad you are talking to some of their parents, hopefully common sense and a little compromise will prevail for the sake of all, the kids having a little summer fun in their designated area and the shocked and outraged oldies living nearby (not in my backyard!)!

Re: Liphook Skatepark - RD (5th Jul 2017 - 16:43:28) I understand that many have been discussing potentially expensive solutions to the problems but I think the bulk of the issues come down to 3 areas, and a cheaper possible solution than a fence would be to display and enforce a set of terms of facility use/conduct/rules, by erecting a number of (indestructible) very large and clear signs at the entrance and one within the skatepark that states something along the following wording. - No Music to be played at any times inside park or nearby (headphones excepted) - No Foul language at any times, inside park or nearby. - Skatepark itself must vacated entirely whether skating or otherwise after 9pm. If these become the accepted community access rules then we can avoid all the mud slinging and self police it better. So for example it's full of people after 9pm, or there is Music being played etc, any responsible passing member of the community or indeed resident can rightly challenge those not adhering to rules without a backlash from those in the park or any parents on this site. And if need be call the police to enforce a set of social use guidelines the community has agreed upon. I appreciate this is a long shot, but if these 3 things didn't happen I believe everyone could reach a compromise and be able to happily move forward. If the kids want this skatepark then surely playing by these 3 simple community guidelines they could evaporate all the problems and gain the support of all sides in the future enjoyment of this facility.

Re: Liphook Skatepark - helen (5th Jul 2017 - 17:33:43) Nice Idea but who would police it? the police have better things to do than monitor skateparks for anti social behaviour. Any one else would have to do it on a voluntary basis. I think if the " oldie" lived nearby and was constantly disturbed, they may not trivialise the noise. After all if a dog barks incessantly it is annoying, why are not young noisy people to br censured?

Re: Liphook Skatepark - Panny (5th Jul 2017 - 17:33:47) To "Another oldie" I am sorry and mystified that you don't understand why Mr George Adair was angry and possibly upset. I understood completely and would have been angry as well if I had been visiting a friend and had to listen to foul language never mind about loud music. Also you weren't there and so you do not know how Mr Adair spoke to this group of people, so please don't make assumptions by implying in your post that his approach was one of confrontation and challenge. He said that he was briefly angry but that does not mean he was being aggressive. Kate backs up Mr Adair’s version of events and moreover a parent of one of the boys is now talking to Mr Adair. I would say that is a good start and a good result. I would end by saying that unlike the majority of posters including you and me Mr Adair posted his full name and contact number. That says a great deal.

Re: Liphook Skatepark - RD (5th Jul 2017 - 18:59:47) Helen, I know my idea that's likely to fail, but am just searching for an answer to a polorized problem. The skatepark ramps itself makes up 90% of the noise pollution when it's in use and being jumped about on but am yet to see anyone objecting to the expected ramp noise or that of kids enjoying themselves even loud enjoyment. It's the language, the music from powerful portable speakers and the late nights that people are finding difficult to tolerate. My idea revolves around a set and agreed code of conduct for use of the facilites. And having this set of conduct on big signs means both skaters and residents via the community have decided that these are the rules of conduct. Am not suggesting the police is called at every moment, but the rules would leave all parties in the clear about what is acceptable or not without all this bickering about it. So rather than sit though a late night or have to put up with music anyone could walk around there and say politely that your not supposed to be doing that if you want to enjoy these facilites as it's written in plain text on a sign that was agreed by the community. Sure there is always going to be the odd bad word, or the odd 9:30pm on a good summer night but if the majority of these three issues could be resolved by working together then I think it's a decent idea which is also thousands of pounds cheaper than a fence or relocation of the park which i doubt the community can afford.

Re: Liphook Skatepark - Clair (5th Jul 2017 - 19:16:19) Thank you penny for your sound advice!!! Mr Adair was visiting our house last night and witnessed what we have to put up with 7days a week... Obv another oldie has no idea or how bad it can be!!!! Maybe we should move it outside his/hers house and then see if he thinks it's ok!!!

Re: Liphook Skatepark - Andy (5th Jul 2017 - 20:43:21) If your kids were at the SkatePark this evening at 20:30 they were smoking Skunk (Grass) and it stank the place out. I watched all 8 of them pass it from one person to another before I asked them to take it somewhere else, 5 ran away towards Haslemere Rd and 3 remained and continued to skate which I have no issues with. These 8 were the only 8 people in the whole of the back rec from 20:15 to now 20:41 and ALL of them smoked it. Only kids though hey, all young once etc etc etc

Re: Liphook Skatepark - John (6th Jul 2017 - 22:53:35) Same again tonight, I asked them what they were up to with rolling cigs that required 3 papers and what looked like two ingredients. They said they were not smoking gear and to be fair to them tonight's crew were well behaved, just odd smokers of tobacco in 3 papers maybe.

Re: Liphook Skatepark - George Adair (7th Jul 2017 - 06:51:04) Thank you "RD" for those suggestions, I will be contacting my daughter to let her know if we can ask to council to implement this action, Its a wonderful thing that the genuine kids who use the skate park for what it was designed for use it in the proper manner and not what others use it for, the various comments others have made pointed in the direction of my curiosity as to why one of the group (a 19 yr old adult) was hanging around with such young juveniles ! there has been certain types of paraphernalia found scattered around the areas that are in close proximity of the park namely a kindergarten school in where it was carelessly thrown ! this is the kind of thing that will ruin it for the children whose hearts are in the right place ! Thank you Penny for your support, the fact I left my name and number was to get a response from the parents of the children concerned, and I have spoken to some of them which I thank you all for. To "Another Oldie" with regard to your comments some of them make sense and thank you, but in regard to your comment "a bit taken aback at their response to you" If you had actually been there and experienced what I did you would have had a different view ! Using emotional blackmail such as "you are causing a breach of the peace or swearing in a public place" just doesn't work anymore, I had this confirmed by a gentleman who had first hand experience of similar situations and by the way a policeman, and gave me some useful information on how to approach it all. The issue of the lad in the tree, say he fell and believe me he was at some height, What do you think his injuries may have been ? if the tree was a climbing apparatus then I am sure it would have had the necessary safety guards in place ! How would his parents have felt if his fall may have been fatal ? The 19yr old who was in the group, "The mix of friends" Come on would you not be curious as to what someone of that age was in a group of 10-12yr old boys if your children were in the group ? considering what was found nearby ! The swearing with one word in particular "C" was used in almost every sentence ! and may I add I am sure that swearing in a public place is an offence, If I am wrong I stand corrected ! There are families, respectable ones at that, who have young children as old as 3yrs actually live a few feet from the park who sitting in their back gardens have to put up with this ! They live there and I am sure when they moved in were unaware of the goings on that happen there most evenings ! I am sure what ever we do to combat all of this will be hard and with support from the Parents, Authorities, Residents and concerned public we may be able to get the park back to its original purpose, remember, " We cant fix if we don't know what's broken" In this case we do, so lets fix it ! Thank you again " Another Oldie for some of you positive points on this. Thank you Panny for your support and WISE words ! Good to know we have people on the same wavelength as me. Once again many thanks to ALL who have commented on this thread, With help and hard work etc., it can be a better place, AGAIN !

Re: Liphook Skatepark - helen (7th Jul 2017 - 09:55:14) I appreciate what you are trying to do but I do not think putting notices up will make teenagers behave any better. After all unless it is policed the problems will continue.

Re: Liphook Skatepark - another oldie (7th Jul 2017 - 13:02:03) George, you are a reasonable person who can both talk and listen fairly, a rare combination! I doubt the police can do much anytime soon (the odd visit maybe), closing the facility down would punish all the kids who use it, individuals confronting them will probably fuel divisions more than anything else, etc. So this will take a communal effort. Unlike Haslemere, where they have a few more of options, all reachable by walking or bus, Liphook is very limited for those whose parents can't ferry them around. The Leisure Centre in Haslemere by contrast is state of the art, the skate park and nets are right there too, they even have a proper police station, luxuries we don't deserve apparently! But unless the children can be driven or afford a train fare (which even I can't anymore), they are stuck here in poor old East Hampshire. Liphook is growing so fast (often very wealthy homes), without comparable increases in amenities. Problems will arise. So I also agree with RD and his idea that the community (I'm guessing Parish Council) should draw up rules of conduct for the skate park, based on agreed local norms of decency, perhaps after consultation with those concerned (and I know another lady on Talkback is involved already), we know some will ignore them, but I still retain hope that there are enough responsible Liphook kids who would read the 'contract' if displayed prominently and tell the others "behave or we'll lose this facility", I don't think Liphook has yet grown too big, too faceless like some of our cities for that to be given that chance! Hopefully this way the skatepark can be saved and used as intended, an alternative to playing football (great game) but not everybody's thing!

Re: Liphook Skatepark - I (7th Jul 2017 - 15:32:55) To another oldie I am intrigued by your claim that most of the new homes being built in Liphook are for the very wealthy. I would not consider 1,2, 3 and 4 bedrooms homes such that are currently available and starting from £76,000 as being for the 'very wealthy' and at Silent Garden' as a good percentage are shared ownership or on affordable schemes. However lack of infrastructure in the town will be a problem soon, especially once the Wimpey Homes (definitely not for the super wealthy) are up Oh, I think you will find the police station in Haslemere has closed, I might be wrong but pretty sure it has long gone. I think the other thing not to forget is that teenagers are just horrible regardless of what amenities you give them, just check out John Bishop on You Tube!

Re: Liphook Skatepark - Slimetime (8th Jul 2017 - 06:30:23) I'm not sure why some are highlighting the age difference between those involved. I was still skating up to my mid twenties; I would speak to children who were ten, even fifteen years younger than I was. I would encourage them, show them how to improve and so on. I not sure what the issue is or what is being implied?

Re: Liphook Skatepark - Penny (8th Jul 2017 - 09:58:47) I think the point made in the first post about 19 and 18 yr olds being with children of between 10 and 13 yr old was that they were actually not teaching them anything about skateboarding. They were just hanging out with them using foul language and playing loud music. If the 10 - 13 yr olds were learning anything it was how to swear not how to skateboard. I too would be very concerned if my 10 year old grandson was hanging out with much older teenagers in a similar environment.

Reply to THIS thread
Talkback Home