30 yobs attack Mumbles land train carrying young families
DRUNKEN yobs attacked a land train travelling from Blackpill to Mumbles with parents and young children on board.
A group of around 30 youngsters, who were taking part in a skateboarding competition at West Cross skate park without the approval of Swansea Council, are thought to be behind the incident.
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Mandy Grey and her daughter Tammy Porter
Mum Mandy Grey, aged 42, a council worker from Brynhyfryd, was on the train with partner Richard Porter and their one-year-old daughter Tammy.
"As we approached the skate park we could see this gang of youths standing in front of the train," she said.
"Of course, the driver had to stop and with that, they started hanging on the sides. We couldn't get off because the whole train was surrounded, some of them were jumping on the roof.
"Somehow, one of their skateboards got stuck under the train and they started rocking it from side to side, I thought it was going to tip over.
"Apparently, it is something they do every year at this event and they were obviously waiting for the train to come along."
The 72-seater land train, known as the Swansea Bay Rider, runs along Swansea promenade from Blackpill Lido to Mumbles.
Ms Grey said the group, which struck at around 4pm on Sunday, was mostly made up of teenagers, but also included younger children and adults.
"I'm not easily scared but it was absolutely horrendous, really intimidating," she added. "I shouted at them to get off, which upset my daughter, it could have got nasty.
"I'm just glad my husband was there. In the end I decided to call the police."
"These kids had clearly been drinking — I saw 12- year-olds walking around swigging cans of beer."
Ms Grey said she got in touch with the Post in a bid to prevent such an incident happening again.
"I really wouldn't like it to happen to anyone else," she said. "What if there had been elderly people on board?"
A council spokeswoman said: "Swansea Council had no prior knowledge of the skateboarding event in West Cross and had not given approval for it to go ahead.
"We are pursuing the matter with the organisers.
"Slight damage was caused to the Swansea Bay Land Train but nobody was hurt."
A police spokesman said: "I can confirm officers were called to incidents of anti-social behaviour which occurred at about 5pm on Sunday at Mumbles Road in Blackpill, when a number of youths on skateboards began banging on the side of the land train, causing distress to passengers. The youths were spoken to and told to behave and the train continued on its journey."
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by Arther Edwards, Swansea
Sunday, October 11 2009, 12:00PM
“Only just found out about this and a smiles adorned my face. I am starting up an anti mumbles skateboard society. I have plans to put CCTV up at the ramp and also have spoken to a security firm who can man the site on a 24hr basis for a very reasonable rate. I have also spoken to the land train company who are really enthused about my plans. I eventually hope to take the society to a bigger scale with CCTV monitoring every skateboard hang out area in Swansea and who knows eventually Wales. Please email me if your interested in getting involved and putting a stop to skateboarding in our city. regards Arther”
by Mike, bridgend
Tuesday, October 06 2009, 5:49PM
“Hey, heres a cocept, maybe the police didnt do anything because the teenagers were not doing anything wrong or breaking any laws. Still, they were upto no good and the police should have given them a good beating to tach them a lesson!”
by Mike, Bridgend
Tuesday, October 06 2009, 4:29PM
“Here's a concept for you, maybe the police didnt do anything because the teenagers didnt do anything wrong or break any laws. However, i can see why you think thats lazy policing and maybe the cops should have given them a good beating to teach them a lesson and taken their skateboards off them and sent them to sunday school instead.”
by Anon, Swansea
Friday, September 25 2009, 2:49PM
“I was on the train at the time of the incident and how anyone can say that the incident involving the train was just a bit of harmless fun is beyond me. If fun is being verbally abused and sworn at by youths then obviously I have led a very boring life uptil now.
As for the youths 'not' climbing on the roof, engine, rocking the carriages etc as stated in a previous statements, why is it then that I have the pictures to prove this actually took place. Since when did it become ok for the enjoyment of some to involve causing such misery for others?
Something that shocked me to the core during this incident, a small child, about 5 years old, on his skateboard trying to hold onto the train whilst his parents sat on the wall drinking and laughing! I'm sure they wouldn't have been laughing had he fallen under the train and had upto 8 pairs of wheels go over him!
As for previous skateboard events passing without a problem. Wasn't it during last years event that a passer by was hit in the face by a skateboard?
I would challenge anybody to have taken my place on the train and accept the abuse, language and disgusting behaviour of these people and still see it as harmless fun.
I accept that for many it was an enjoyable event but does that mean it's ok for some to behave in this way?
Where were the event organises and why weren't they keeping this under control?
Youths, whether on skateboards or bikes, have hounded the train for many years. I would not, and I doubt anybody else would, put up with the abuse and barrage of bad behaviour and lack of respect that the poor train staff are bombarded with on a daily basis.”
by Jason, Swansea
Thursday, September 24 2009, 12:05PM
“I was at the event with my wife and two children (aged 2 and 7) and we all had a great time, as we do every year at the event.
I accept that some individual¿s on the train may have been upset, and this is unfortunate but, from my perspective, the story is nonsense. Yes, people held on to the train, but they were asked to stop, and they did, as confirmed in the article - "The youths were spoken to and told to behave and the train continued on its journey."
Obviously a slow news day in Swansea!
I do however think the comments on the article are, as always are top notch. My particular favourites being:
"Teenagers acting like er.............teenagers",
"i use to think skateboarders and goth kids were alright", and
"sinister long hair" (I assume this is only targeting male skateboarders/youths)
Rubbish article, brilliant knee jerk commentary.
Cheers SWEP”