USERS of a York skate park have protested after the facility was shut down by the city council and reduced to rubble following complaints by residents.

Children and parents gathered at the Sidings Skate Park in Holgate Park on Saturday and said they should have been consulted first.

The £65,000 facility opened in March after a long consultation process with local youngsters and residents.

It immediately led to complaints from residents living near the skate park who said the skaters had been abusive and vandalised the area. They said it attracted older children and "boy racers" from all over the city.

The council appealed to residents to try to make the facility work, but the complaints continued and the facility was dismantled on Saturday.

Bev Davis's grandchildren regularly used the facility and she said no one had been consulted on the closure.

She said: "Nobody has listened to the young people.

"It was wonderful for them and it got them out of the house and was something for them to do.

"It is a total waste of money and they have not taken the opinions of the people who use it into consideration.

"Everyone seems to forget what it was like to be a teenager."

Brothers Arran-James and Benjamin Stubbs, aged eight and seven, regularly used the skate park and both were upset it had closed.

Arran-James said: "I usually come down when I am bored, which is nearly every day, and after school.

"I am angry that it has closed and I think they should bring it back."

Benjamin said: "I used to come after school and am upset that it is not here."

Former Labour ward councillor, Liz Edge, backed the users of the facility and said she would write to the council.

She claims the problems in the area caused by youngsters were there long before the skate park arrived and the council had bowed down to a small number of residents.

Holgate councillor Bill Fairclough (Lib Dem) said he hoped another facility could be put up in an alternative area in the near future.

Updated: 10:29 Monday, July 21, 2003