Search for
Search for
Search forBleak future for Croyde skatepark
Tuesday, September 16, 2008, 11:30
Hot on the heels of the Braunton Bowl closing, the future of Croyde's skateboard area is now looking very bleak, and may be closed in as early as five weeks' time if North Devon Council's planning department sees fit.
A Croyde skatepark spokesman explained: "The future of Croyde children's skateboard area is currently being discussed by the district council planning department, and based on what they hear from local people in the next four weeks it will either stay or go."
They added: "I personally believe that Croyde's skateboard area is an amazing achievement. Out of the 2004 parish plan surveys and meetings, youth activities and specifically a skateboard area came top of almost everyone's wish list.
"In a very short period of time we achieved this and gave the youngsters something to do and somewhere to go. It is very well designed, very well built, very well looked after, very well maintained, and very safe.
"The local children have taken ownership of it, look after it, and absolutely love it."
And skatepark people are urging the community to get behind the skatepark and write to the council to show support.
He said: "I personally believe the skate park should stay and I have written a letter of support to the council's planning department saying why I think it should stay.
"I guess it's now up to everyone in Croyde and Georgeham to decide. If you want the skateboard area and associated youth club to remain then it is absolutely imperative that you write an individual letter of support to the council's planning department.
"It is no good to sign a petition or send one letter signed by many people, it has to be individual letters from local people to count. If you are a family of four then you should send four separate letters quoting application number 47303.
"The future of Croyde's skateboard area and the associated youth club now rests with you."
Campaigners to keep the park open are already busy, and one supporter has set up a Facebook group called Don't shut down the Croyde skate park.
Ian Blake, from Croyde set up the site, and so far 83 people have joined, to show their support.
Hazel McAllister, communications officer at North Devon Council said: "It appears that the skate park never had proper planning permission, so now they are applying for retrospective planning permission, and just like any other application there is a six-week public consultation process."
Comment on this story