CCTV goes up at Inverness Skate Park in battle against vandals

CCTV is to be installed at Inverness Skate Park following an outbreak of vandalism and antisocial behaviour.

The latest incident, which saw graffiti sprayed on one of the tracks, follows reports of underage drinking, bullying, stone-throwing and vandalism, including damage to flood lighting.

On a busy day, around 300 people can use the £350,000 pump track which opened at Bught Park in November.

And now, the association which runs the facility has warned repeat incidents could threaten its future and spell and end to improvements.

A new skate park for Inverness has been a long-held ambition and volunteers have been working tirelessly for almost 10 years to raise funds and bring the new park for skaters, boarders and cyclists to fruition.

Allan Carson, chairman of the Highland Skate Park Association (HSPA), a charity, said he was extremely disappointed to discover the park had been targeted by graffiti again.

“We do all this because we want Inverness to have facilities for young people and adults to use and enjoy, but when things like this happen it is personal, it makes you think maybe you shouldn’t bother,” he said.

“If you are a funder and you hear the skate park gets vandalised, – then maybe you wouldn’t bother providing funding, and we don’t want that to happen.”

He explained there was a group of six volunteers working to keep the park well maintained and safe, but more were needed.

Mr Carson is appealing for anyone interested in helping with maintenance, fundraising or coaching to get in touch.

He also wants parents to take more responsibility for their children, and is urging people using the park to be vigilant and report any abuse of the facilities to Police Scotland by telephoning 101.

Mr Carson said the association had been left with no option but to install CCTV and he hoped it would deter antisocial behaviour.

Cameras are being installed.

“Association members work full-time, and we are parents,” Mr Carson continued.

“We need support. We have no authority to move people on and we feel undervalued when told that we should be doing more to be monitoring what is happening at the park. It is only the police that can do this and people need to contact them if they have a problem.

“We need help to keep it running. It was always about keeping kids and families active.”

Police Scotland are investigating and community beat officers have been visiting the park.

There have been issues of antisocial behaviour elsewhere in the city, including at parks at Inshes and Dalneigh.

Association members fear it could be a group moving round the city that is causing havoc.

Local parents took to social media to praise the association for the positive impact the park has had since opening.

They welcome the installation of CCTV.

One mother described it as a fantastic park, which her sons thoroughly enjoy, while another said: “Someone always has to spoil good things; it is a great facility for kids.”

Inverness West councillor Graham Ross has supported the project since planning started in 2008. He now intends to ask police to increase their presence in the area.

“It is a world- class facility and the volunteers work so hard to keep it that way,” he said.

“It is a small minority causing trouble and I hope that it can be sorted quickly.”

The skate park is the first of its kind in the UK and was designed by professional mountain bike champion Claudio Caluori and his company, Velosolutions.

It was built by Architrail, the UK’s leading bike park construction company.

The park was funded with money from Sportscotland, Inverness Common Good Fund and the Wren Landfill Trust, along with other trusts and charities.

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