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Bam Margera, skater and Jackass star, offers support to skatepark plans for new centre in Folkestone by Roger De Haan Charitable Trust

15:00, 20 July 2015

updated: 15:29, 20 July 2015

First it was MC Hammer, now plans for a unique sports centre in Kent have more celebrity backing.

Professional skater and Jackass star Bam Margera is the latest famous fan to support the plans for the world's first multi-storey skatepark in Folkestone.

Margera, from Pennsylvania in the USA, said he wanted to take a trip to Folkestone when the centre opens in 2017.

Pro skater and Jackass star Bam Margera. Picture: Wikipedia
Pro skater and Jackass star Bam Margera. Picture: Wikipedia

Planning permission is still required before that date becomes a reality but Margera was full of praise for the project during a blog post on his website.

He wrote: "If you grew up skateboarding and/or cruising around on a BMX, you probably remember getting in trouble on more than one occasion for riding where you weren't supposed to.

"It definitely is a problem for kids and skaters of all ages when they live in small towns where a skatepark just isn't going to happen all that easily.

Artist impressions show what the new sports centre in Folkestone will look like. Picture: Guy Hollaway Architects/RDHCT
Artist impressions show what the new sports centre in Folkestone will look like. Picture: Guy Hollaway Architects/RDHCT

Rap star MC Hammer tweeted his support for the new building and even broke into a Twitter exchange with MP Damian Collins and Sandgate councillor Tim Prater.

Margera added: "This is particularly true if the people in your town are obsessed with things like football or hockey. Skateboarding ends up being put on the back burner in some of these smaller places because of more "traditional" sports.

"For many skaters of all ages, then, the choice is to either skate in places around the town or not skate at all. The choice is obvious: skate around town.

"UK billionaire Roger De Haan, the kids in the small town of Folkestone, England deserve a place to skate, bike, and do whatever else they want to on wheels. At least this stops some average person from having to get a huge loan to make this place happen.

"Who else wants to take a trip to this small town just to test this place out?! Hopefully De Haan has good insurance..."

Read his full review.

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