Undercroft Underwhelms Londoners

May 28, 2013, 4:47 PM GMT+0

Most Londoners are unaware of the soon-to-be destroyed undercroft skatepark - and are divided over plans for its removal

The undercroft skatepark on London’s Southbank, dubbed a “famous and legendary spot” by professional skateboarders the world over, is to be replaced by shops and restaurants as part of plans to turn the ageing Festival Wing of the Southbank Centre into a new performance, exhibition and retail space. A new park will be built near Hungerford Bridge, however the plan has been opposed by more than 28,000 signatories of an online petition.

New YouGov research finds that Londoners do not share their enthusiasm: prior to polling, a majority (57%) had not even heard of undercroft skatepark and less than half (43%) knew of the site.

Overall, Londoners are divided by the plan to re-home undercroft: 39% support the idea and 32% oppose it. The only age-group to have more in opposition than support of the plan are 18-24 year olds, where 43% are against compared to 28% of those 60 years old or more.

Undercroft is not a designated skatepark, but has grown since the 1970s into what skateboarders, BMX bike riders, rollerbladers and graffiti artists describe as a ‘spiritual home’.

See the full poll results

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