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Whitstable Harbour skate park to close as academy hunts for new home

14:01, 25 September 2019

updated: 14:12, 25 September 2019

Organisers of a pop-up skate park are “desperate” to find a new home.

The FAR Skate Academy, based on the John Wilson estate in Whitstable, is a skateboard building and design school which uses skateboarding to engage vulnerable young people who struggle to learn in school, re-engaging them with the education system.

The ramp on the West Quay
The ramp on the West Quay

It introduced a skateboard ramp to Whitstable Harbour during the summer, with activities including graffiti art, ramp-building and build-your-own skateboard workshops.

But the skate park will be vacating the West Quay premises on October 1 and the free school is now searching for a new location in either Herne Bay, Whitstable or Canterbury.

Founder and CEO of the FAR Reach Foundation Brent Lewis said: “There is a lot to do in Whitstable but not much for teenagers. What we are trying to do is help those wandering around find a place to go.

“A lot of people who work in the Harbour - including fishermen - said since we have been here the impact has been really positive and there have not been the issues there have been in the past. It has definitely helped with bringing the community together and lowered the impact of anti-social behaviour.”

Searching for a new premises has been “stressful” for Mr Lewis, who is appealing for people to get in touch with ideas or propositions of where it can go next.

Brent Lewis, CEO and founder of Far Skate Foundation
Brent Lewis, CEO and founder of Far Skate Foundation

He added: “We need a place to put it. It would be a shame for it to be locked up - we are desperate. It is keeping me awake at night.”

Mr Lewis is keen to use the old cockle shed - near the West Quay entrance - during the winter, but there are no plans for this yet.

The free school says it had more than 600 people visit the skate park during the summer.

Construction company ISG supported the Far Skate Foundation with the donation of the £30,000 ramp it built from scratch, and Whitstable Harbour Board allowed them to use the unused land previously used for the construction of wind turbines.

The land is now due for development to provide lock-up space and storage for fishermen.

A graffiti art workshop
A graffiti art workshop

Luke Sullivan, a trustee of the Far Skate Foundation, said: “The guys who own the boats and the fishermen have both said the skate park has had a knock-on effect on anti-social behaviour in the Harbour and the Harbour is more pleasant place to be with us set up here.”

Nikki Hoyles, 48, assistant manager at Keith’s Coffee Hut, said: “It is good for keeping the kids off the street - there are not enough things for children to do in Whitstable.”

Can you help? Email whitstablegazette@thekmgroup.co.uk.

Read more: All the latest news from Whitstable

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