Minister mediates between skaters and BMX riders

Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino is acting as a referee between skaters and BMX riders and believes there should be no turf quarrels over the new skate park at Tal-Qroqq.

Mr Pullicino said when contacted that while skaters had the new park at the Msida subway, the ministry was working to upgrade the BMX track in Pembroke to ensure that everybody was happy practising their sport.

He was reacting to an article, which appeared in The Times last Monday, reporting that, after years of lobbying to get their skating area at Tal-Qroqq developed into a park, skaters were upset that BMX riders were taking over the precious space.

Initially, when the €232,937 (Lm100,000) project was launched in August, it was reported that the area was intended to create facilities for both skaters and BMX riders.

However, Mr Pullicino said that things have since changed and after talks with both the Malta Skaters Association and the BMX Association it was decided that the ministry would work to help both sides.

"We have agreed to upgrade the BMX track at Pembroke with landscaping and other work. However, the park at Tal-Qroqq is designed specifically for skaters," he insisted.

With regard to a comment made by a teenage skater that a boy got hurt after stepping on a rusty nail, Mr Pullicino warned that the area is still a building site.

"We appreciate their eagerness to try out the ramps and practise their sport, but the park is still under construction. Metal fencing will also be put up around the area to ensure the safety of both skaters and motorists," he said.

While teenage BMXers and skaters at Tal-Qroqq were reluctant to share the territory, their separate associations are eager to present the image that these young people are welcome to practise their sports at both the track in Pembroke and the new skate park.

BMX Association president Johnnie Zammit, who founded the track at Pembroke and has voluntarily maintained the upkeep of the place over the past 20 years, welcomed the ministry's help to upgrade the area and encouraged the skaters to use it too.

"All I can say is that skaters are welcome to use the track in Pembroke. They have all the facilities here," he said.

The Malta Skaters Association was of the same mind and it insisted there was no "feud" among the groups, only a difference in what was ridden and how people rode that caused people to be slightly annoyed.

Founded in 2003 to cater for a sport that has existed for 30 years, the MSA took up the task of cleaning the Tal-Qroqq site, removing vulgar graffiti that marred the area and organising competitions for the youngsters.

"We were then approached by Minister Pullicino and his team to transform the area into a skate park - a dream come true for us," said MSA spokesman Michael Demarco.

Mr Demarco said that, since the new skate park was designed by skateboarders, then it was logical to say it was for skateboarding. However, this did not mean that the MSA was against BMX riders using the park.

"We personally, as committee members, will not take on the role as law enforcers to stop BMX riders coming in. They are, after all, the same as us in essence."

However, the refurbishing of the BMX track was "a very good and very just solution," he said. "This will resolve overcrowding and ensure groups are more spread out."