Finally, VentnorBlog has received the breakdown of the £60,000 figure quoted by IW Property Services to Ventnor Town Council regarding the Ventnor Skate Park.
We should have received this on Friday when the IW Council press office tell us they sent it, but for some reason, it didn’t get to us. Something to do with it not being sent to our regular VentnorBlog email account, but there you go.
We’ve got it now and can share with you details of the costs estimated to complete the renovation of the Ventnor Skate Park.
In addition to the rough breakdown of costs, there is also a statement from Stuart Love, IW Council director of environment and neighbourhoods. It’s a little confusing, he says ….
“At no time has the IW Council asked for £60K or even £50K from any organisation to do the work – our preferred solution is for locals and users to manage it themselves with the support of a responsible body who can ensure that safety standards are adhered to.
Not sure what Stuart is getting at here, no-one has said that the council asked for £60k to be handed over. What Property Services did, was tell the Ventnor Town Council that if they wanted to take over responsibility for the skate park that the cost of finishing the renovations and maintaining it, the figure required would be in the region of £60k.
He continues ….
We have no desire to see a community facility lost and hope such a body will come forward in the near future.
That’s great to hear Stuart and we hope that the council will do all they can to help the organisation who are planning to take on responsibility for this much needed and loved facility.
We know you’re all dying to see the breakdown, please remember that they are rough costs. We’re totally amazed by the size of the figures for the various pieces of work. We also wonder whether the VTC were advised that the £60k cost could be dramatically reduced if they chose not to raise the sea wall level? Or if they chose to keep hold of the recently renovated equipment rather than buy new?
UPDATE: It appears not from the councillor that we spoke to about this.
Costs:
Remove current concrete pad and create a new, higher concrete pad on existing site to include groundwork stabilisation and leveling to ensure stability of ground – £20,000
Removal and temporary storage of ramps to upper car park while ground stabilisation works carried out – £7,500
Remove existing loose rubble and prepare surface to an acceptable and safe standard – £5,000
Reduce threat of flooding and reduce wave action by raising sea wall level (Optional Work) – £10,000
Replace existing equipment on site (Optional Work as existing equipment is in satisfactory condition) – £7,500
Installation of fencing around site – £6,000
TOTAL COST – £56,000 (or £38,500 with no work to sea wall and equipment)
As Matthew Chatfield, Manager for Parks and Countryside, has stated several times, the cost of this work would be dramatically reduced if carried out locally.
