It seems almost weekly now we are hearing of yet another iconic skate spot being threatened with destruction, the latest being Atlanta’s Black Blocks (sign the petition here).

Famously, thanks to the organisation and incredibly hard work of the local skaters, London’s South Bank managed to avoid redevelopment – preserving what’s left of the ‘home of English skateboarding’. There are lessons, as well as inspiration, to be taken from LLSB efforts.

The reasons for the losses seem to be universal – local councils want to find more ways to monetise public space, something which skateboarding is inherently resistant to. As long as public space continues to be seen as  a cash cow for private investment this, sadly, will continue.

We need to organise, resist and use the power of the skateboarding community to fight wherever we can.