Repairs to an Isle of Wight skatepark will hopefully see it open in time for summer – after it failed a safety inspection.
The Moa Place Skatepark, in Freshwater, was unexpectedly shut last month after the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents deemed there were significant hazards.
A ‘cheap, temporary solution’
Freshwater Parish Council is coming up with a ‘cheap, temporary solution’ to patch it up as it agreed to submit plans to the Isle of Wight Council for a new skate park and pump track.
An inspector said the equipment may be beyond the point of economical repair after they found rotting ramps, lifting boards and surface wearing, but the skatepark should be shut until it can be made safe.
Bamford: It’s come to the end of its life
Councillor Anne Bamford said the skatepark, which was the first on the Island and opened in September 2010, had come to the end of its life.
She said,
“All we are trying to do is really patch it up as cheap as we can as we won’t have to keep it for too much longer.”
Wear and tear
Most of the damage has been caused, council officers say, by wear and tear although councillors raised fears of vandalism.
Councillor Brenda Hobbs said the council was only looking at keeping it for a couple of years, but they have to have it open for the summer holidays, or the village would be chaos.
Budget for repairs
The council has already set a budget for repairs to the skatepark, with which it will buy materials to fix problems and officers will donate their time to install them.
Presentation about new skatepark
The parish council is committed to providing the new skatepark and yesterday (Tuesday) received a presentation from Gravity Engineers, the designers of the track.
The authority is funding half of the cost (£120,000) and looking to secure grant funding and sponsorships to cover the rest.
Seeking planning permission
Without planning permission yet, it cannot apply for grants.
If the green light is given, it could take between ten and 12 weeks to construct the track and is expected to have a 30 to 40 year lifespan before any issues arise.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
Image: © Paul Blackley
