The sunny Bethnal Green Gardens has been home to rollerskaters in east London ‘for as long as people can remember’.
The open and safe space, with a smooth and level ground, offers the perfect opportunity to glide and practise an all manner of tricks and spins.
So why has Tower Hamlets Council plonked a single padel court right in the middle?
‘It almost feels intentional,’ local Matheus, who comes to watch the skaters, said. ‘Why is it right in the middle? There’s space next to it on either side.’
The padel court, which suddenly appeared on March 10, has been constructed temporarily to gauge interest for the sport, which is the fastest-growing in the UK.
But the skaters say the court has remained largely untouched by padel players. As Metro visited, a group of children playing football were kicking the football against and over the court walls.
And 20 minutes later, some roller skaters attempted some tricks around the net.
‘It acts as a boundary’
Adam Clarke, who is one of the organisers for the campaign to remove the court, said the skating ‘no longer feels flexible and fluid’.
He told Metro: ‘Before, it was a multi-use area. BMX users would also come here, I even saw a unicyclist once.
‘But the court has now become a boundary – and it won’t even be free.’
Angel, 17, started skating a few months ago, but felt supported enough to come down to the park on her own to learn.
Having spent all her life in the area, she said how there was some local grumbles from people who thought the skaters were too loud.
She said: ‘It’s irritating we can’t do laps now. But I’ve heard complaints before from people that the skaters were too noisy – and now this has appeared.’
‘It’s sacred ground for people looking for a low-cost outlet’
Currently, the court is free for anyone, but once construction is completed on it, users can expect to pay.
The campaign group have been told it will cost £24 per hour, but the price of most padel courts across London is much higher. In Stratford, it costs £58 per hour.
‘This is sacred ground, it’s got established roots and a strong reputation here,’ Lillie Almond, one of the organisers of the campaign said.
She has had an outpouring of support from across the world – even as far as Tanzania.
‘It’s about more than just skating,’ she added. ‘It’s about the coming together of people and sharing this space spontaneously. But this court only allows a maximum of four people.’
Different generations come together to skate on the area. A young girl, Sadie, skated completely independently and safely among the adults who were also in the area.
SP, 43, has been rollerskating on the tarmac for the last three years. He said it is a low-cost but healthy activity.
He told Metro: ‘A lot of us who do it do not earn a lot of money. It’s low cost and gives us the opportunity to get some fresh air and mediatate for a bit.
‘But having this court here permanently really disrupts it. When there’s a community event, it gets right in the way.’
Tower Hamlets Council, said: ‘This is a trial of padel courts on multi-sport games areas in Bethnal Green Gardens currently has free padel sessions for the community, as part of our work to increase access to sport and improve the health and wellbeing of our residents.
‘Padel is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. The trial has proved popular and matches the increasing demand for the sport among residents and schools.
‘We also value our skating community which is why we have dedicated skate parks in Mile End and Victoria Park.
‘We appreciate people will have different views, which is exactly why we are listening as part of our consultation.’
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