Saxilby Wheeled (Skate) Park
Background
Residents of Saxilby have wanted a skate/wheeled park for many years. The aspiration also came up through the Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) consultation and is listed as a Community Project in the NDP - The NDP is a live planning document, which is used alongside the Local Plan by the planning authority (WLDC) to determine planning applications in the area.
Progress
Design and Location
Community consultation selected the preferred design of the park.
Further community consultation took place over summer 2019, particularly in relation to the proposed location on the Memorial Field (’The Pav').
The site on the Memorial Field where the existing spiders net and old multi-play unit is located. This is due to the spiders net and multi-play unit being near the end of their natural life span, as indicated from an independent annual play equipment inspection. It will therefore be located next to the new play area. This also has the added benefit that parents/carers can be in one area if they have children wanting to use different facilities.
A number of sites around the village were considered by the Council for the proposed location of the new wheeled park and the Memorial Field was selected, as opposed to Westcroft green space and Mill Lane for example, for a number of reasons – there is on-site parking, the site is regularly staffed - who can respond to any issues for example accidents or anti-social behaviour, the site has CCTV - which will be extended to cover the wheeled park, and there are on-site facilities (e.g. toilets).
Funding
The £90,000 project, is being funded from external funds and not from residents council tax (precept).
- A significant part of the funding of the wheeled/skate park was received from a developer contribution, Lindum Homes, in summer 2019 (as a result of works being carried out on council land in relation to their housing development)
- Following an application to Sport England’s Community Asset Fund in January 2020, Sport England funding of £37,000 has been secured
- Further funding has been received from Stirlin Developments and also from the funds received from the contributions from the Salvation Army clothing bin located on the Memorial Field
Planning
- Planning permission was submitted on 20th January 2021, which provided a further opportunity for the community to be consulted on the plans. Permission was granted on 12th March 2021, with the application actually falling under Permitted Development.
- Planning Permission Notice
- The Council is grateful to local architect Catherine Amos of Studio Amos who supported the project through the planning process.
Construction
- Construction of the Wheeled Park began on Monday 12 April 2021.
- The construction process was completed on Friday 15 May 2021.
Completion
- The Wheeled Park was officially completed on Friday 5 November 2021.
- This followed the installation of a bin, benches, a second path, grass matting, signage, CCTV and fencing to the area around the Wheeled Park.
Thank you for your support and enthusiasm to date with the project, and like the Memorial Field play area project, we’re excited to be taking the project forward from a community aspiration to a physical build, for our community and visitors to enjoy.