THIS IS AN AMENDED VERSION TO THE ONE RELEASED YESTERDAY
ISLE of Wight Council is asking parties interested in running Ventnor Skate Park to come forward as soon as possible or it may face an uncertain future. The facility was opened in 2001 following a request made to the council. Keen to support the proposed skate park, the council provided free use of its land to house the ramps.
During a routine inspection, it was clear the site had fallen into such disrepair it was now a danger. As landowner, the council must accept ultimate responsibility for the safety of the public using the land and must therefore ensure the site is maintained in an acceptable condition.
Now the IW Council is looking for organisations to take over the running of the skate park and interested parties should contact the council by 2 May. They would be required to name an individual who will hold the license and necessary work would need to be carried out at the park so it meets safety requirements. If by 2 May no interested parties have come forward, the council will have no choice but to consider options for the future of the land, including demolition of the skate park. The area would then be brought up to safety standards.
Isle of Wight Council Parks & Countryside Manager Matthew Chatfield said “We would much rather see this facility continue to be used but it has been allowed to fall into a state that is entirely unsafe for users as well as being an eyesore. Although the ramps themselves are in a satisfactory condition, the structure is unbalanced, there is no fencing, and there is one area that has a sheer one metre fall onto a hard surface.
“We have not sought quotes but following a detailed site visit we estimate that if the local authority were to carry out the necessary repairs to the area, it would cost in excess of £50,000 – an amount for which we do not have a budget. This would include labour costs, installing fencing, levelling and stabilising the ground, and dismantling the equipment while the repairs are carried out. If an interested party wants to take over the facility and could source the work locally through volunteers for example, this cost would be dramatically reduced.
While some people may feel the health and safety regulations of the licence are strict, they are there to protect users. Whoever takes over the licence would need to meet the conditions, whether that be a local group, individual, or the council.”
Notices will be erected at the site advising the public of the current situation and the final date for interested parties to come forward.
Anyone who requires further information about running the park should contact Isle of Wight Council’s Matthew Chatfield on (01983) 823893 or Jason Doughty on (01983) 821000 ext 3467
ISLE of Wight Council is asking parties interested in running Ventnor Skate Park to come forward as soon as possible. New managers for the site are being sought because the group that has operated the amenity – Ventnor Community Projects – has informed the council it is no longer willing to take responsibility for it.
The facility was opened in 2001 following a request made to the council. Keen to support the proposed skate park, the council provided free use of its land to house the ramps.
But during a routine inspection, it was clear the site had fallen into such disrepair it was now a danger. As landowner, the council must accept ultimate responsibility for the safety of the public using the land and must therefore ensure the site is maintained in an acceptable condition. Therefore officers contacted the park licence holders Ventnor Community Projects asking the group to carry out repair work to the facility to meet the safety requirements.
The council was subsequently disappointed to hear from Ventnor Community Projects that it no longer wants to take responsibility for the skate park, nor its licence.
Now the IW Council is looking for organisations to take over the running of the skate park and interested parties should contact the council by 2 May. They would be required to name an individual who will hold the license and the group would then need to carry out necessary work at the park so it meets safety requirements. If by 2 May no interested parties have come forward, the council will have no choice but to consider options for the future of the land, including demolition of the skate park. The area would then be brought up to safety standards.
Isle of Wight Council Parks & Countryside Manager Matthew Chatfield said “We would much rather see this facility continue to be used but it has been allowed to fall into a state that is entirely unsafe for users as well as being an eyesore. Although the ramps themselves are in a satisfactory condition, the structure is unbalanced, there is no fencing, and there is one area that has a sheer one metre fall onto a hard surface.
“We have not sought quotes but following a detailed site visit we estimate that if the local authority were to carry out the necessary repairs to the area, it would cost in excess of £50,000 – an amount for which we do not have a budget. This would include labour costs, installing fencing, levelling and stabilising the ground, and dismantling the equipment while the repairs are carried out. If an interested party wants to take over the facility and could source the work locally through volunteers for example, this cost would be dramatically reduced.
While some people may feel the health and safety regulations of the licence are strict, they are there to protect users. Whoever takes over the licence would need to meet the conditions, whether that be a local group, individual, or the council.”
Notices will be erected at the site advising the public of the current situation and the final date for interested parties to come forward.
Anyone who requires further information about running the park should contact Isle of Wight Council’s Matthew Chatfield on (01983) 823893 or Jason Doughty on (01983) 821000 ext 3467
If you have a comment to make about the future of the Ventnor Skate Park, please add your comment to the post Ventnor Skate Park To Be Closed? Updated
