SEDGEFIELD NEWS - Skateboarding has become a contentious issue in Sedgefield, following the recent erection of a no-skateboarding sign in Pelican Lane after residents in the area complained about the practice.

Pelican Lane is an important road for Sedgefield, connecting Makou Street just off the N2 with the waterfront-road Kingfisher Drive that goes out to Myoli Beach. Pelican also bypasses the Village Green park, the Sedgefield Police Station, the Sedgefield Clinic, the Lions Club Sedgefield's offices, as well as one or two housing areas. 

The road is smooth, and with a slight gradient, it's prime skateboarding real estate for local skaters.

"It's the best road to skate on in town, it's by far in the best condition, and offers the best surface for skaters," said 35-year-old Kaylee Welgemoed who returned to Sedgefield from Cape Town prior to the start of lockdown in 2020, having grown up in the Slow Town. 

Welgemoed has been skateboarding as a hobby for three years now, and enjoyed the ability to continue her hobby when she returned to Sedge. That is, until it was brought to a stop in the final week of January when Knysna Municipality erected a sign prohibiting skateboarding in Pelican Lane.

According to Knysna Municipality spokesperson Christopher Bezuidenhoudt, the sign was put up following objections from residents in the street. 

"We have on numerous occasions received complaints from residents of Sedgefield regarding young people who are endangering their lives and those of others by skateboarding in front of or in between moving vehicles in those streets," he said. 

He also pointed out that while the sign is new, there has in fact always been a by-law in place prohibiting skateboarding in public streets in all areas of the municipality.

While some of the skateboarders were not aware of the by-law, they had never been instructed to stop by law enforcement officials. "We have clashed with other residents, but we never had problems with the police or law enforcement until the sign was put up," said 18-year-old Levi Bobek. Bobek has lived in Sedgefield for 12 years, of which he has been skateboarding for five. 

"It's the best road, it's long and straight so we always have high visibility of traffic, and it goes past the park, so it really became a community activity for some people."

According to Welgemoed, with help from resident Zunaid Kajee, they have started a skater's community to raise funds to build a skate park in Sedgefield. "Our initiative is called Slow Town Saturdays, and it's a way for all us local skaters to come together and find a way to carry out the hobby we love," she said.

The issue has sparked heated debates on social media after a photo of the sign was posted on a Facebook group for Sedgefield locals. When KPH sought insight from Sedge residents on our Facebook page, the jury was split too, with many arguing against skateboarding and many for it too, for varying reasons.

"Skateboarding is an art. I skated for 20 years kept me busy and fit, away from drugs and causing k** it's a great sport and affordable for most kids. It should be endorsed by adults it's clean good fun," said Facebook user Dean Boardman.

Another, Matthew Burns, argued, "Why not do like they do in other countries, build a simple public skatepark, even just using cement so it's durable."

Resident Judy Bruwer said, "Our street corner gets used as well and this is a busy road, and cars speed. The skateboarders here do not look for traffic and two had nearly been in an 'accident' here."

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