One of the problems
with trying to tell this diy story
– actually –
tells a story
So
hoping for filmed interviews
on site
and video material
of the guys
building their skateland
this is basically
– all i got –
The reason simply being
– of course –
that building a skateland here is not legal
Formally they have no permission
and can therefore be thrown out
– right now –
their concrete skate dream
many many days in the making
turned to
dust and rubble in a few days
So far though, it seems like the strategy used is working
Police, showing up here now and then, mostly seem happy that the place is a little less frequented by cable strippers, junkies and hookers since the skaters started building. According to the skaters police have even complimented them, saying “this looks really good, boys”.
As far as I know, neighbours have not been complaining much either. Probably for much the same reasons.
Paying for the material themselves, instead of stealing stuff from building sites and such, most likely has helped too!
The bridge inspector gave them a bit of a scare, when he turned up, but he only said “naturally I have to put this in my report, but I can’t see that you have damaged the bridge at all by building this the way you have done it”… and so far they have not heard more from him/them…
Still, nobody knows what will happen in the days, months and years to come. What they are creating there, in my own opinion, watching it from the outside perspective – and probably with a bit of an architect’s eye – is really cool and has turned this forgotten scary dirty space into something with a lot of qualities.
Interesting and attractive in so many ways.
Hopefully the saga continues and is allowed to grow into something even bigger and better. There is no way I’m going to stop following what happens under this bridge after my degree project is over.
* As for the boulders…
When I first came here to check the place out I could drive my car all the way up to under this the western landing of the bridge.
After visiting a large number of times and having lots of discussions with ■■■■■, one of the guys who started this thing, about wanting to film and do interviews, suddenly one day there was a row of nine large boulders blocking the entrance.
After having told ■■■■■ and a couple of other guys they were being ridiculously secretive, for some time now – this actually got me a bit quiet.
Still not known, as far as I now, to the skaters if the boulders are there to stop/hinder them or “the others”.
