New skate park Options

[Darren]

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article...articleID=14659

£200,000!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why is the original one not good enough?

Wouldn't they be better waiting until the survey is done and spend it on fixing the cracks?

So many questions....

[TallDarkAndHands...]

How long after it is built before it is vandalised / set on fire? I'd give it 6 months max.

[Richard Garvie]

That is a huge amount of money to replace a skate park that seems to be in fairly good condition already. However if the money is funded by s106 payments which I suspect it probably is, there would be no choice other than to spend the money on this project.

Great news for teenagers who use skateboards, but I do agree the money could have been used on after school sports & arts that would of reached a greater number of people.

[dannyboy]

How long after it is built before it is vandalised / set on fire? I'd give it 6 months max.

I don't remember the current one suffering any damage over the years.

[dannyboy]

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article...articleID=14659

£200,000!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why is the original one not good enough?

Wouldn't they be better waiting until the survey is done and spend it on fixing the cracks?

So many questions....

For the same reason the current tennis courts are good enough.

[dannyboy]

That is a huge amount of money to replace a skate park that seems to be in fairly good condition already. However if the money is funded by s106 payments which I suspect it probably is, there would be no choice other than to spend the money on this project.

Great news for teenagers who use skateboards, but I do agree the money could have been used on after school sports & arts that would of reached a greater number of people.

If teenagers are getting lots of exercise & enjoy using the facilities then I say spend away. School sports facilities are only open when the school is, require staff & have a naff factor which would stop kids using them.

And, considering most of the top skate / bike Pros are men in their 30s a £200k skate park isn't just for teenagers.

Something positive is being done in town & all we get is negatives.

[Richard Garvie]

I'm not saying it is a negative, but it seems like a lot of money to replace something that doesn't really need replacing!!! And with regards to lots of people getting excercise from it, I do believe a study suggested that the current facilities were used by only 37 people in the week surveyed (height of the summer holidays!).

If the money was allocated to the Town Council to pay for this project, then all the best to them.

[dannyboy]

I'm not saying it is a negative, but it seems like a lot of money to replace something that doesn't really need replacing!!! And with regards to lots of people getting excercise from it, I do believe a study suggested that the current facilities were used by only 37 people in the week surveyed (height of the summer holidays!).

If the money was allocated to the Town Council to pay for this project, then all the best to them.

Currently the skate park only consists of a few duplicated ramps & quarter pipes. Think of it as an enlargement, not a replacement.

To see what a real skate park can be have a look at - http://www.thegrandskatepark.co.uk/ . This is in Clitheroe, a town not disimilar to Newbury.

( waits to hear moans & complaints about the council building a 'ruddy great empty concrete swiming pool' in Victoria Park )

And 37 People? whwn were they conducting the study? term time?

[Richard Garvie]

What "may" have been a better option would have been to have kept the existing skate park and then used the funding to creat a facility like Adrenaline Alley in Corby, Northants.

http://www.adrenalinealley.co.uk/new/

That way you have the outdoor one, and something a bit more suitable for the winter also. My point is, there is very little though process beyond the "lets build a skate park" for "the yoofs" by the council. If you are going to spend that kind of money, build something that attracts people to the area.

[Richard Garvie]

For the record, this facility occupies a redundant industrila unit and provides educational facilities, music facilities and a "hang out zone". It gets kids off the streets and does something positive with them. Surely Dannyboy you must agree that this would have been more effective use of the cash???

[JeffG]

I do believe a study suggested that the current facilities were used by only 37 people in the week surveyed (height of the summer holidays!).

And 37 People? whwn were they conducting the study? term time?

Perhaps you should read a bit more carefully!

[dannyboy]

For the record, this facility occupies a redundant industrila unit and provides educational facilities, music facilities and a "hang out zone". It gets kids off the streets and does something positive with them. Surely Dannyboy you must agree that this would have been more effective use of the cash???

Would £200k have covered it? Given the high cost of land in Newbury?

The skate park seems to be one of the best used youth facilities in Newbury.

[dannyboy]

What "may" have been a better option would have been to have kept the existing skate park and then used the funding to creat a facility like Adrenaline Alley in Corby, Northants.

http://www.adrenalinealley.co.uk/new/

That way you have the outdoor one, and something a bit more suitable for the winter also. My point is, there is very little though process beyond the "lets build a skate park" for "the yoofs" by the council. If you are going to spend that kind of money, build something that attracts people to the area.

No, your point is 'I can't be positive about anything done by the Council as I'm in oposition'.

Using a word such as 'yoofs' isn't what I'd expect from a prospective candidate either.

[dannyboy]

Perhaps you should read a bit more carefully!

Maybe - but 37 is a woefully low, misrepresentative number.

[part time]

Aside from all this bickering, does anyone who's got the contract to build the park or if there are any plans kicking about?
I can't wait to use it...even if I am a little over the projected age range.

[Iommi]

Maybe - but 37 is a woefully low, misrepresentative number.

How do you know?

[Iommi]

Using a word such as 'yoofs' isn't what I'd expect from a prospective candidate either.

Yes Richard Garvie, less of the pejorative vernacular if you don't mind!

[dannyboy]

How do you know?

Observation every time I walk / cycle through the park.

[David Allen]

I'm not saying it is a negative, but it seems like a lot of money to replace something that doesn't really need replacing!!! And with regards to lots of people getting excercise from it, I do believe a study suggested that the current facilities were used by only 37 people in the week surveyed (height of the summer holidays!).

If the money was allocated to the Town Council to pay for this project, then all the best to them.

The skatepark does need replacing. This is the whole point of the exercise! The existing steel and wood structure is worn-out and will have to close within the next few months.

As for the study suggesting 37 people using the facility . . . can you support the figures quoted? I really don't believe they're accurate.

And yes, the money has been allocated to the Town Council for us to use as we see fit . . . and last night at the Town Council we exercised that right, and voted for the new skatepark.

[dannyboy]

The skatepark does need replacing. This is the whole point of the exercise! The existing steel and wood structure is worn-out and will have to close within the next few months.

As for the study suggesting 37 people using the facility . . . can you support the figures quoted? I really don't believe they're accurate.

And yes, the money has been allocated to the Town Council for us to use as we see fit . . . and last night at the Town Council we exercised that right, and voted for the new skatepark.

Hear Hear!

Hopefully some of the users of the existing park will have a say in what they'd like to see.