Skate park will boost Shoreham (From The Argus)

Skate park will boost Shoreham

3:23am Thursday 6th December 2007 in News By Richard Gurner

BMX riders and skateboarders have had their plans for a skate park approved.

Councillors on the planning committee of Adur District Council gave the skate park - designed by local riders and skaters - unanimous backing.

Costing £185,000, the park will be split into two areas comprising an American-style concrete bowl and a separate street circuit area where riders and skaters can practise their "ollies and grinds".

The funds to pay for the park are coming from a successful Lottery grant bid of £135,000, awarded to the council in February, and £50,000 from waste company Viridor.

The park, at Shoreham's Ham Recreation Ground, Eastern Avenue, will include public artworks paid for by Viridor.

Some of the £50,000 it has pledged will also pay for an artist to create the right "look" for the park.

Artist Dave Parfit said: "The Ham seems to be the ideal spot and Shoreham's lucky in that respect because it's perfect for a skate park and it will help gentrify the area."

The plans also include lit seating, picnic areas, greenery and CCTV cameras.

Council officers spent the summer with skaters choosing the design and location of the park.

Work then began on ensuring the right ramps and skate rails were chosen for it.

The site was decided on because of its accessibility, its position away from homes and proximity to a police station.

The plans are yet to be finalised but the park should be up and running by the end of March next year.

Councillors at the meeting were full of praise for the park, hailing it as a flagship project for the district.

Council leader Neil Parkin said: "It's a great scheme and somewhere for the local children and youths to go to. People talk about graffiti and vandalism but we have to give them something to do." Skater Nathan Marshall, 21, who helped design the park, said: "It means everything to us and will make a real difference to skating in the area."

Canadian skatepark specialist Sprectrun will be in charge of the scheme - its first in the UK - and local company Adenstar Limited will do the work.

Parks manager Clive Bramble said: "The project aims to provide the best possible new facility for the money, which meets the needs of beginners and experienced skaters, in a landscaped, futuristic, lit and CCTV-safe environment, which forms a magnificent gateway to Shoreham.

"The user group has worked hard for the past 12 months to find out what is the best available and negotiate with a world-leading Canadian company. We are all looking forward with excitement to March 2008 and wheeled sports Christmas presents."

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