Whitchurch skate park scheme is back on the cards
A £45,000 skate park could finally be built in Whitchurch more than seven years after money was first set aside for it.
Plans for the skating area, earmarked to be built in Jubilee Park, have been supported in principle by Whitchurch Town Council.
Further investigations will now be carried out to develop concrete plans in the coming weeks.
About £17,000 of the cost of the skate park is to be met by a fund which was set aside by members of the Next Generation Youth group who wanted to build a skate park on the site seven years ago.
The group had almost £100,000 in grant money lined up to use until the town council controversially withdrew its planning consent at the last minute.
Now the scheme has been revised in a bid to breathe new life into Jubilee Park.
Mike Ralphs led the scheme seven years ago. Speaking at a meeting of the town council's recreation and amenities committee, he said: "Everything was in place seven years ago. We had plans for a skate park to be built which was the size of two tennis courts but it collapsed at the last minute.
"We had almost £100,000 promised in grants but most of that money has now been lost, although we do have around £17,000 in a secured account."
He added: "The Jubilee Park does not have the best reputation. But parks are only unsafe when they are underused. A skate park will entice youngsters down and the more people that are there the safer it will be."
When asked by members if he would lead the new project, Mr Ralphs declined.
He said: "I will help but I do not want to be at the forefront. When the last project collapsed there was quite a nasty fallout and it affected me professionally.
"I will not let this affect my business again but I will help and assist where I can."
The mayor of Whitchurch, Councillor Rob Hewson, said: "I would like to reassure Mr Ralphs that as a council we are much better advised than we were seven years ago. We need more facilities for youngsters and we need to improve the Jubilee Park. The council is fully behind the new plans."
Councillor Gerald Dakin, Shropshire councillor for Whitchurch South, said: "Seven years ago I opposed the application because I felt what was proposed was too big for the area. This plan is far better."
