RESIDENTS were today involved in a bitter confrontation over the shock removal of a £65,000 York skatepark.

Young skaters descended on The Sidings Skatepark, at Holgate Park, wearing black armbands to mourn the loss of the facility.

Council standards chiefs have been asked to investigate its removal amid concerns the public and estate managers were not consulted and "thousands of pounds" were wasted on the scheme.

The ramp was closed on Saturday after a flood of complaints from nearby residents who said teenagers were being abusive and causing damage.

But former ward councillor Liz Edge has now asked City of York Council's monitoring officer to probe the move because not all residents were told about the decision.

Today, supporters and objectors clashed at the site as a protest was held about the closure.

"It was like living in downtown Baghdad when the ramp was in place," said resident Tony Miller, who is delighted it was torn down.

Fellow supporter Robert Fairweather, 75, said: "I got called an old fart by some of the older children at the park. All I did was try to stop them pulling out plants from the park."

Skater Cara Stubbs, 15, was at the protest with her mother, Tina.

"I'm wearing a black armband because our ramp has been killed," she said.

"We were not to blame for the trouble."

It is believed up to £40,000 of money set aside for community leisure on the estate was spent on installing and landscaping the skate facility.

"We need to ascertain whether the closure was carried out within the rules," Mrs Edge said.

Estate housing managers, Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT), which set up consultation to resolve the problems, expressed surprise at not being consulted on the closure.

Jacquie Dale, JRHT's community services manager, said they would ask the council for an explanation.

"We were not informed about the skate facility being pulled down and neither were the residents," she said.

"This was a surprise because we were in the process of a monitoring enterprise with the council, Home Housing and the police to try and resolve the problems."

Coun Keith Orrell, the council's executive member for leisure, said he appreciated concerns over "the waste of money", but felt the closure was justified.

Holgate councillor Bill Fairclough said: "I don't think any of the costs involved can offset the safety of children."

Updated: 13:43 Thursday, July 24, 2003