Scotland needs affordable indoor spaces for skate sports. After the closure of Transgression Park and Boardwalk Roller Rink in Ocean Terminal, Leith, Scotland’s capital and East Scotland won’t have any indoor skateparks.

Transgression Park and Boardwalk Roller Rink is a local, independent business that is an important element of Edinburgh’s skate community. It is currently located in an easily accessible location at Ocean Terminal. Unfortunately, in July 2023 it will have to close its doors as it is being replaced by Bingo 3000, a national chain of bingo halls. 

We are collecting signatures to ask for support for Transgression to find an affordable, easily accessible, indoor space for a skatepark, and support for skate sports in Scotland.

We believe that the closure of Edinburgh’s only indoor skatepark is a hard blow to the skating community and contradictory to the Scottish Government’s current agenda of promoting health and exercise and reducing the negative impact of gambling. We want to highlight the importance of skate sports as alternative indoor activities, which should be given more priority by councils and in SG’s Physical activity and Sports agenda. Indoor skating also relates to the following outcomes in Scotland's National Performance Framework: Health, Economy, Communities, and Children and Young People.

Indoor skateparks provide a safe environment for skaters of all ages, capabilities and backgrounds. Skating facilities provide spaces for not only skateboarding and roller skating, but also inline skating, scooting, and BMX. 

• They are places for young children or novices to discover a new sport under the supervision of paid members of staff who can teach, assist and aid where needed. 
• Parents and skaters can be assured there is no broken glass or other dangers that are frequently encountered in outdoor skateparks.
• Novices can rent equipment to see if they will enjoy the sport without having to make a big investment, making it more accessible to people of all socio-economic statuses.
• They offer a sense of community and an inclusive environment, and consequently have a large positive impact on mental health.
• They are constructed with soft wooden surfaces designed and maintained by professionals, which reduce the risk of injury in comparison to the hard concrete surfaces used in outdoor skateparks.
• Bathroom facilities make skating more accessible to people with a wide range of needs.
• Indoor spaces allow continuing the activity throughout the year, regardless of weather or daylight, and people across Scotland travel regularly to existing indoor facilities.
• They provide spaces for young people (but not only) to meet outside of school and make friends.

With skateboarding now included in the Olympics, skating has proven its status as a form of athleticism. Skate sports improve strength, endurance, coordination, balance as well as reflexes. They provide an extremely inviting alternative to those who want to start exercising but dread going to the gym or doing standard forms of exercises.

The uptake of skate sports is predicted to grow among young girls, particularly with the success of 14-year-old Sky Brown in Olympic skateboarding. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award reports seeing an 800% increase in young women taking up skateboarding. Skateparks are often intimidating spaces for girls and young women, as skating has traditionally been a male-dominated sport. We believe that having access to indoor parks supports girls and women’s participation, as they may find it easier to come into a safe  adult-controlled space, while beginners can try the sport with rented equipment.

Particularly the Edinburgh community has been lacking in skate facilities and spaces for young people. Recent community initiatives in Leith, such as Leith Links Activity Park and Leith DIY ramps, prove that there is huge demand for these activities. With the global skateboarding market alone predicted to reach 2.84 billion USD by 2028, a skatepark has the potential to create revenue and local jobs for staff and coaches. Transgression has been the home of Skate of Mind, a social enterprise that works with young people not engaging in physical activity or education, and supports women and girls in accessing skateparks.

We believe that it is unacceptable that Scotland loses another safe indoor skatepark, and demand support for Transgression or other independent businesses to find affordable and accessible spaces in Edinburgh and Scotland. 

 

Dr Johanna Jokio (Senior Information Analyst, Public Health Scotland)

Gill Harman (Manager, Skate of Mind CIC)

Saskia Sophia Ashley (Senior Product Analyst, AND Digital and former Physiotherapist)

Nicola Walker (Teenage Cancer Trust Youth Support Coordinator)

Clara Boeker 

 

Photo credit: Ken Thomas

More information: Edinburgh Evening News