23 Aug: READ AND SIGN PETITION! Over 18's banned from London Bridge Plaza

IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ AND SIGN PETITION! Over 18's banned from London Bridge Plaza

This is really fucking important so read it, sign the petition, and don't let happen. Stand up for your rights!

In an amazingly odd move the management of the new London bridge skatepark
have imposed a rule banning skateboarders over 18 from skating the park.

Sign the petition organised by Seth and Slam at...

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/892230000

Here's a quote from the parks management...

"In the case of Whites Grounds, we are not permitted to allow unaccompanied
adults on the site at any time as young people.
If a young person was to be assaulted or groomed during our supervised
sessions, we would be held accountable."

You also have the chance to write a comment on the petition so please keep
it articulate and sensible. This is a crazy rule that needs overturning so
get signing.

This rule at the London Bridge park is, to coin a phrase, political
correctness gone mad. "...unaccompanied adults"??? That's a bizarre twist on
things!

For a start the park is SUPERVISED, unlike many in the UK, and should serve
as deterrent enough to any improper behaviour.

One of the best things about skateboarding is that it is all inclusive and
trying to keep adults and children apart is unnecessary nannying that has
clearly been thought up by somebody with no real knowledge of skateboarding.

This rule fairly reeks of naive thinking that skateboarding is just
something that kids do. This attitude is something all skateboarders have to
battle against everyday and further highlights the misunderstanding that
many seem to have about the activity.

A grown man with a skateboard is not a potential paedophile and does not
need to "grow up".

The park is also frequented by a large number of sponsored and professional
skateboarders from both the UK and abroad on their visits to London. Most of
these are over 18 and banning them from the park is depriving younger kids
from skateboarding with respected peers that they look up to and can learn a
lot from. London is home to many sponsored and professional skaters. We have
very few public parks of a worthy standard and their presence at these few
decent skateparks is something that helps keep the scene alive.

Can you imagine David Beckham being denied access to playing on a public
football pitch? That's exactly what's happening here if the over 18
exclusion stays in place.

The management behind the London Bridge park need to seriously reconsider
their actions and consult other local councils responsible for public
skateparks in the UK. They'll clearly find that their rules are
unprecedented and completely unnecessary.

Thanks for your support,

Kevin Parrott
United Kingdom Skateboarding Association
www.ukskate.org.uk