.jpg) Rollerblading pensioner Geoff Dornan has vowed to carry on skating, even if it lands him in prison.
After calling off his appeal last week against his conviction for dangerous and annoying skating on Chapel Street, Southport, Geoff says the way forward is to open discussions with Sefton Council.
Geoff was found guilty of breaking a bye-law at Southport Magistrates Court in February and must pay a £300 fine and costs to Sefton Council of almost £1,800.
“I am going back to say 'OK, this has happened, I am not very impressed, but the law still remains the same so we are back at square one',” Geoff, 71, said.
“I want them to tell me how I skate in such a way to fulfil the law. They are hoping I will just go away, but I won’t.
“I will respectfully ask for directions, but if they won’t talk to me I will carry on skating, but next time they fine me I won’t pay so I will go to jail.”
Geoff says his solicitor has written to Sefton Council to ask for a discussion.
He contends that the bye-law, stating that people must not skate “in such manner as to cause danger or give reasonable grounds to annoyance to other persons using the footway”, is ambiguous and a matter of personal interpretation.
A spokesman for Sefton Council said: "If we receive any correspondence from Mr Dornan's solicitors, we will respond in the appropriate way."
Geoff, of Normanhurst, Ormskirk, says he still enjoys skating around Ormskirk, Southport and Liverpool.
He says he has the full support of the British Roller Skating Federation and recently passed their grade four proficiency test - the highest level - on his first attempt.
By Natasha Robson
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