The ‘pocket park’ in Holborn 

A RECENTLY opened “park” has been fenced off by the council a month after opening due to skateboarders causing “havoc”.

The Fleet Valley Pocket Park – a triangle of land between Mount Pleasant and Laystall Court in Holborn – was re-landscaped in June.

Mounds built into the ground were intended for children to run up and down but instead attracted skaters looking to practice kick-flips and nose-grinds.

Holborn and Covent Garden Cllr Awale Olad said skaters had taken over the park one day after it opened, adding: “I don’t know how they found out it was there but they came. I was bombarded by angry emails and phone calls from residents.”

He said the park was intended “to add that further bit of green” to a pavement that was “full of pigeon poo”.

Boarders at Cantelowes Skate Park said the council had overreacted and their sport was “unfairly demonised”.

Tebi Fangho, 19, said: “When my friends come to London to skate they hate it because it’s so strict. Skateboarding is a sport, that’s all it is.”

Lukas Pentland, 21, said: “If they don’t want us to skate in public areas that resemble skate parks just make dedicated skate areas.”

He added that skating keeps young people busy and from doing “much worse things”.

The council is considering three options to deter skaters, including flattening the bumps entirely.