Residents to be questioned on the design
People living near Elthorne Park are being asked to give their opinions on plans for a new £200,000 skate park.
Questionnaires are being sent out by Ealing Council about the design of the leisure facility.
The money comes from the borough’s £1million Youth Fund which was created in 2008.
The decision to build a skate park came after consultation with school students and further investigations identified Elthorne Park as the most suitable location.
Representative for the campaign, 13-year-old Duncan Brookfield, said: “Just like footballers and cricketers, we are serious about our sport too, it’s good exercise and we just want somewhere that’s safe to practise and compete.
“Elthorne Park would be good because it is central for many skaters and has good transport links, but we know that some people around there think we are just ‘hoodies’. They see us in parks and on footpaths, which we know is dangerous, but locally we don’t have anywhere else to skate. We need a skate park.”
Councillor Phil Taylor, Cabinet Member for Customer and Community Services, said: “Currently, there are no facilities in the local area for skaters or BMX riders. We have listened to the needs of local young people and agreed to build a great skate park that will become an asset for the whole community, just like a football field or swimming pool.
“We are seeking the views of the community during the planning process so that we build a skate park that will be embraced by everyone. There are various options for design that address common concerns about skate parks such as noise, security and the visual impacts on the local area.
The decision to build the skate park has been welcomed by members of the East Ealing Skate Park campaign, who have spent more than a year lobbying for a local facility.
June 11, 2009