In defence of the new skate park (2)

I am a skateboarder and have been practising my sport at the Msida subway practically since it was built in 1996. I would like to make some points regarding the comments made by correspondents about pollution.

Firstly, it is a fact that carbon monoxide is lighter than air and therefore goes up when released not down. The subway is below street level in all but a few places.

Secondly, anyone who has ever passed through the Msida subway would realise how fresh the air is down there.

The reason for this is because it is on top of a hill and is also an open space with buildings surrounding less than 50 per cent of the area.

This leaves it open to wind coming from any direction, which is always stronger down at the subway. In fact the air down in the skate park is probably cleaner than it is for the surrounding houses/offices since they are higher up. Regarding the location, please note that the reason the subway is so popular is not just because it was always good for skating, but also because it is centrally located and can be reached from all of Malta by one bus (plus a short walk).

Most skateboarders do not own cars and must use public transport. Having the park in a remote location would mean more skateboarders having to skate in street spots around the island which would probably be more dangerous anyway.

Seriously I cannot imagine a better place for the skate park. Thanks to the work of the Malta Skateboard Association (MSA), Minister George Pullicino and the Ministry for the Envir-onment, Architect Ivan Coleiro and every one at Polidano's, we skateboarders now have a place that is great for skating, clean, centrally located, was built with safety in mind, and once the final two barriers are in place (one next to the road and one between the bowl and the path), it will be the safest place to skate on the island. It will also be a great place for anyone to just sit on the grass and watch some good live skateboarding.

I would also like to mention that MSA is aiming to have cleaning equipment and first aid equipment stored on site in the near future, in order to help take care of the place and its users.