Shrewsbury skateboarding facilities to be reviewed
Skateboarders in Shrewsbury will have the chance to get involved with new projects in the future as part of a review being undertaken by Shropshire Council.
A review has recently taken place with local BMX bikers looking at provision within Shrewsbury, leading to a new club for BMX bikers being set up, and investment taking place into a number of sites. It is proposed to adopt a similar approach to skate park provision and to work with users to develop and implement the best approach for Shrewsbury.
The review will mean that the proposed development of the skate park at Monkmoor Recreation Ground will stop to allow council officers and people interested in skating to discuss the best way of improving facilities across Shrewsbury as a whole.
A formal tendering process had taken place for work at Monkmoor skate park but since then council budgets have come under increasing pressure, so officers felt that skate park projects in Shrewsbury should be reviewed.
Councillor Steve Charmley, Cabinet member for health and wellbeing, explained:
“We have been talking for a long time with various people about the best way forward for Monkmoor skate park. It’s important that we get it right, and I think it makes sense to look at skating provision across the town as a whole rather than in isolated pockets. Let’s be honest, budgets are incredibly tight at the moment so it’s important that we spend whatever money we have wisely, and perhaps across numerous sites to make sure the maximum number of people can benefit. I hope people interested in skating get involved with this review and help improve access to the sport for everyone in the Shrewsbury area.”
Councillor Miles Kenny, local member for Monkmoor, added:
“I think it’s really positive that the council will be working with skate park users to make sure that any new developments are what everyone wants. There have been many discussions with different groups of people about the proposals at Monkmoor Recreation Ground, and any work won’t start there until the review has been completed. Due to safety concerns the current equipment, which is unusable, will be removed from the site while that review takes place. Meanwhile a new play area has recently been opened at Monkmoor and is already proving very popular with young people.”
Anyone who would like to be involved in the review of skate park provision in Shrewsbury can contact Sean McCarthy in the council’s leisure development team by emailing sean.mccarthy@shropshire.gov.uk.
