Still skating

As a mark of how long I have been living in London, I remember the Undercroft at the Southbank Centre being recently established as a rough, grungy and thrilling skate park. Never seen skateboarding before and certainly not in such an under-world echo-chamber. In fact, that whole location was somewhat dark and threatening - hurry through and don't dawdle. So I was only too pleased just before Christmas to find myself strolling along the terrace in front of the now very familiar and well loved Undercroft and to be asked to sign a petition in support of the Long Live South Bank (LLSB) campaign to  save the Undercroft from the Southbank Centre's sweeping re-development plans. I was well impressed by not only the professionalism of the campaign and the passion of the campaigners but moreover, felt genuinely moved to do my little bit to keep spirited and brave skateboarders in their adopted place of sport and performance. How could all that be transported and replicated elsewhere? And now me and over 50,000 others have helped to achieve at least a stay of execution for the skate park. Southbank Centre has gone back to its drawing board to review the plans for its new site and how to accommodate the skateboarders rather than how best to shunt them off to the edges. What next we wait to see.......