A DECISION to demolish a 'much-loved and well-used' skate park has been condemned by residents and an MP.

Demolition of Atherton Skatepark began on Tuesday after Wigan Council ruled the outdoor facility to be unsafe for the public to use.

Residents set up an online petition in a bid to try to stop the demolition which was signed by more than 300 people.

Atherton MP Chris Green has criticised the council for keeping residents in the dark about its plan to tear down the Wardour Street park before the bulldozers moved in.

He said: “After Formby Hall and the swimming baths closing and everything else, this seems like yet another example of Wigan Council taking resources away from Atherton.

“The skate park has been a much-loved and well-used facility for the people of Atherton for years.

“If the park was unsafe, why not make repairs rather than go to the trouble of demolishing it?

“Surely the cost of fixing it would be a lot cheaper than sending in the bulldozers.

“But this is not just about money.

“The council should have spoken with residents about what it wanted to do rather than make cloak and dagger decisions against the wishes of people in Atherton.

“We now need to hear what this land is going to be used for and if it is going to be yet more housing.”

Stuart Gerrard, chairman of Atherton Residents Association, is disappointed there was no consultation before a demolition decision was made.

He said: “We thought the skate park was closed for maintenance so it has come as a shock.

“The issue has been handled badly by the council but in Atherton we are becoming used to bad management.”

The council says it made the decision to close the skate park after inspections revealed eight pieces of equipment ‘posing a danger’ to users.

It added that reports of anti-social behaviour also played a part in the park's closure.

Penny McGinty, assistant director for property at the council, said: “We took the decision to demolish Atherton Skatepark due to it posing a risk to users.

“This decision was not taken lightly but we have to put the safety of the public first, which is why we have had to act quickly.

“The new facilities now on offer at Howe Bridge Leisure Centre are of a much higher standard and are safe to use.

“We would urge people to please take notice of the warning signs at Atherton Skatepark as anyone using the site is putting themselves at risk.”

The park was closed on December 15.

The council says it 'notified all relevant people who had direct involvement with the skate park once the decision was made to close it'.