Skaters will be banned from town centre (From Yeovil Express)

Skaters will be banned from town centre

5:56pm Wednesday 1st March 2006 in Yeovil By Lyndsey Mayhew

SHOPPERS and pedestrians will soon be able to walk safely through the town when a new byelaw to ban skaters from Yeovil is introduced.

At a full council meeting, South Somerset District Council unanimously passed the new byelaw to ban skateboards and other self propelled vehicles from areas such as Middle Street, The Quedam, and St Johns Church-yard. Skate boarders will still be allowed to use their boards at skate parks and on private land where they have been given permission to use them.

Deputy leader Cllr Tony Fife said: "Skaters are a constant threat on the steep slope of Middle Street and cause havoc with pedestrians. Recently a PCSO was knocked down by a skate boarder and the rider was charged with assault."

He added that the ban would only apply to areas within Yeovil town's boundaries The council have now made the byelaws available for public inspection for one month, and will then apply to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

If this is successful then the new laws could come into force one month from then. Breaking of the byelaw would result in the offender paying a maximum fine of £500.

Cllr Fife said: "Skaters will still be able to use their boards at skate parks across the district, including parks at Yew Tree Park, Milford Park and Oak Tree Park."

In total, Somerset has 20 skate parks in the district including facilities in Barwick, Mudford, and Ilchester.