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'Build us a bigger skate park'
Young people have called for a bigger and better skate park to be included in huge plans to change the face of Central Park.
Plymouth City Council has unveiled proposals to build the Life Centre leisure complex to replace the out-of-date Mayflower Centre and the Central Park swimming pool. Plans include building homes on the Citybus Milehouse depot and on old allotments at Pennycomequick - as well as a new cinema and bowling alley.
The city council today confirmed that the skate park may have to be moved and urged young people to have their say.
School's Herald sought to find out what would happen to the popular skate park, which was opened after a long campaign only two years ago.
We spoke to a range of young skateboarders who are interested in the future of the park and commented on the plans. They insisted that the skate park should be part of the council's considerations.
One youngster said: "It should be changed because there isn't enough space in the park and people are fighting over space. Also it will stop people riding in town."
Suggestions included an area of land more level than the current skate park location so that users could do a lot more 'free-styling', a form of skateboarding which appeals to many skaters.
When work on the existing skate park started, the design was very much youth-driven. The skate park cost £160,000 and was funded by grants from Sport England, as well as a large contribution from the city council.
Campaigner Joseph Stubbs said that city skaters also held their own fundraising events.
To investigate the situation this time around we contacted Plymouth council planning officer Richard Bara.
He explained that the reconstruction is still in a planning stage and may involve relocating the current skate park.
He was, however, adamant that the youth of Plymouth are being encouraged to get involved in the new Life Centre's design.
Mr Bara said anyone could access the plans through the internet or fill in consultation forms which are already available at the Mayflower Centre.
When Mr Bara was asked whether the development and construction involved in the Life Centre would affect the park's use, he explained that the development would include surrounding access to the park.
New foot and cycle paths will be introduced to encourage both Central Park's use and its safety, hopefully, as a result, to improving the health of Plymouth citizens.
It seems as if the fate of the skate park rests in the hands those of who want to campaign for it and that this reconstruction is another chance for both the council and the young to work together for something they both want, not just in the context of the skate park but also the whole of Central Park.
It would be a tragedy to miss out on the opportunity.
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