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Skate park faces permanent closure |
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Thursday, 26 February 2009 |
From: The Berwick Advertiser
A VILLAGE skate park opened just five years ago could face permanent closure unless new volunteers are willing to run the facilities. Residents of Belford clubbed together to raise more than £40,000 to develop the park on land owned by Northumberland County Council next to the village fire station.
Now, however, there are just two members remaining on the skate park committee - treasurer Paula Romaines and chairwoman Carol Carmon.
They say they are unable to continue to raise the estimated £1000 a year it costs to keep the park open and are looking to hand over responsibility for the area.
Paula explained that they, along with other residents, had originally got involved to provide their children with somewhere they could safely practice their skateboarding skills.
"At the time, we had lots of kids skateboarding and there was a big problem with them skateboarding on the roads.
"The skate park was something the kids wanted and it put a stop to this problem.
"We had to raise more than £40,000 to build it and get it up and running. We had to find somewhere that was not outside the village, where people could keep an eye on the kids."
As a result, a five-year lease was signed on the parcel of land, an asphalt surface laid and ramps installed.
"We were always a small committee, but numbers have dwindled," added Paula. Some members had dropped out, while others had left the village.
The skate park is currently closed temporarily until the issue of who manages it is resolved. Paula and Carol warned that if no-one comes forward, the facilities will be permanently shut, the lease - which is due for renewal this year - will lapse and the land returned to Northumberland County Council.
The park will also be ripped up as the land would have to be returned to the county council in its original state.
"We are sure the county would renew the lease - it's a case of finding someone to take it on," said Carol.
"There may be some other mothers out there who are willing to take it up.
"Our kids were in middle and high school and really into skating when we started it.
"They have now grown up and we thought passing it on would be the easy part.
"We would love to see it continue and would be really upset to see it go. It would be a real tragedy for the kids to see it go," she added.
Paula and Carol approached Belford Parish Council last week to ask if members would take over responsibility for the skate park.
Coun Geoff O'Connell said it was possible the Berwick Borough crime and disorder reduction partnership could help and said he would bring the issue to its attention. He also suggested that the parish council made arrangements to speak to Northumberland County Council officials about the future of all county council assets in the village when the new unitary authority takes over on April 1. |
