6/12/07 Skateboarding and BMX faciltities- The Councils Report

Below  is a copy of the City Councils Report on Skateboarding and BMX facilities in this part of the city.

 

There is NO reference to Contour Park in the Report.

 

We'll keep this site  up to date with information on how the plans go forward.

 

Your three Abbey ward councillors, Andrew Gravells, Norman Ravenhill and Bob Gardiner all  remain opposed to any development on Contour park.

 

Gloucester City Council

 

 

COMMITTEE

:

Cabinet

DATE

:

Cabinet briefing 28th November,

Overview and Scrutiny 10th December,

Cabinet 12th December

SUBJECT

:

WHEELED SPORT FACILITIES IN THE BARNWOOD, ABBEY AND HUCCLECOTE WARDS

DECISION TYPE

:

Cabinet

WARD

:

BARNWOOD, ABBEY AND HUCCLECOTE

REPORT BY

:

Cllr Andrew Lewis                          

NO. OF APPENDICES

:

2

REFERENCE NO.

:

 

 

 

1.0       PURPOSE OF REPORT

 

1.1       To consider the complaints and problems that have arisen at the Clock Tower Skate Park and a proposal to relocate to another site.

 

1.2       To approve recommendations regarding the future planned allocation of wheeled sport facilities in the wards of Abbey, Barnwood and Hucclecote.

 

2.0       RECOMMENDATIONS

 

2.1       To agree to the relocation of Clock Tower skate park equipment to another site subject to Bellway Homes written agreement.

 

To agree that a consultation exercise is carried out where a number of alternative locations will be explored in the area of Abbey and Hucclecote. This wheeled sport facility will consist of the relocated skate equipment from Clock Tower Park with further extensions planned in the future. A formal group consisting of local Skateboarders and BMXers will work with the Parks Development Officer to apply for grants to fund this relocation and potential extensions. Clock Tower Park will keep its remaining mini-muga (multi-use games area).

 

2.2       It is recommended that two youth sport facilities be developed in the wards of Barnwood, Abbey and Hucclecote. The second of these will be developed in Coney Hill Park after consultation with local youths and teens through the Echoes youth centre. The exact nature of this site is yet to be determined.

 

 

3.0       BACKGROUND

 

A skate park in Clock Tower Park was provided by Section 106 funds from the surrounding Bellway Homes development. A two stage public consultation process led to a project plan including the skate park being approved by cabinet. The final design was produced working with local skaters.

 

It has seen problems escalating since its installation in September 2005. After Gloucester City Councils Environmental Health department reviewed complaints from residents regarding noise levels generated by the skate park they deemed the noise sufficient enough to ask the then Parks Department to allow those residents periods of respite during the week specifically Sundays when the skate park was to remain closed. To this end the skate park was fenced off with two lockable access gates allowing us to close the skate park at the times requested.

 

 

4.0       PROGRESS

 

4.1       At a meeting with Barnwood Councillors and the Barnwood Community Partnership it was agreed that the skate park was not working in its current location. The budget for Clock Tower Parks development has been allocated and no scope exists from this to pay for the skate parks relocation within the Clock Tower park itself. The option of locating the skate park to Coney Hill Park as part of a redevelopment project was explored. After consulting with local residents and skaters / BMXers it became apparent that a location in Abbey / Hucclecote was preferred.

 

4.2       An open meeting for all local skaters and BMXers was held at Abbeydale community centre on 29th August 2007. At this meeting it was agreed that Lobleys Drive Open space was the preferred location for the skate park equipment.

 

4.3       It came to light after this date that the Lobleys Drive Open space is also the intended location of a potential church / community building. In an attempt to avoid any conflicts of use an alternative location across Abbeymead Avenue was suggested to the group of skaters who agreed that whilst Lobleys Drive was their favoured location Contoured park was a suitable alternative.

 

4.4       After a further meeting of the local skaters a formal group to be called ABBEYRIDE was formed and an application for the City Councils Youth facilities Grant was made with a decision expected in December.

 

4.5       Twenty four residents who live closest to the proposed relocated skate park in Contoured Park were written to and asked for comments on the facility and it's location. Seven letters / responses have been received back. These are available from the Parks Development Officer on request. These responses are all against the proposed relocation on the grounds of (in no order) a new busy junction being completed next to the skate park, increased anti-social behaviour, increased noise for residents, increased motorbike use in the parks, that this facility would not benefit the local community and increased graffiti.

 

4.6       All residents who've responded will be written to and informed closely of the progress of the report.

 

 

 

 

 

5.0       FUTURE WORK

 

5.1       Grant funding which Abbeyride could also look into are Heritage Lottery Fund young roots, Gloucestershire Environmental Trust, Biffawards and several other smaller scale pots including schemes run by the larger supermarkets such as Tesco. 

 

            The move is also subject to Bellway homes written agreement as the re-location of the equipment could go against a clause in the section 106 agreement. They have responded in writing agreeing to the relocation subject to another separate matter. Any relocation would have to wait for the resolution of this separate matter.

 

6.0       CONCLUSIONS

 

There are four main public open spaces in the wards of Abbey, Barnwood and Hucclecote which are of the required size to provide facilities of this nature; Lobleys Drive/Contoured Park which has an informal BMX track, Clock Tower Park which has a mini muga (multi use games area), skate park and informal BMX track, King George V playing fields which has no youth facilities and Coney Hill park which has a multi use games wall.

 

A number of potential locations in the Abbey and Hucclecote Ward will be reviewed via an area wide consultation exercise to take place in early 2008. This will determine a preferred option for the relocation of the skate park by March of 2008.  

 

Coney Hill park will be developed using section 106 funds from the adjacent school development site. As part of the consultation for this project local teens and youths will be consulted through the local youth club on what facilities they want in the park.

 

            The remaining area within Clock Tower Park will be consulted on with local residents for its preferred future use.

 

7.0       FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

7.1.1       The relocation of the skate park will cost approximately £25,000. This includes a quote of £12,500 to relocate the equipment provided by GBH Engineering who installed it and  £10,659 to install a tarmac pad suitable for this equipment. These quotes are from May and June of 2007 respectively so are subject to inflation. Additionally clearance work and landscaping will be required as well as a litter bin and signage so an estimate of £25,000 is envisaged. Abbeyride currently have in total £10,000. £5,000 from the BLF play lottery scheme and a £5,000 community services grant. Abbeyride have applied for a further £20,000 from the City Councils Youth Sports Facility Grant in November of 2007 with a decision expected by January 2008. No financial implications will fall on the City Council in this option. 

 

7.1.2       Bellway Homes may object to the movement of the equipment which could add the cost of equipment to the scheme.

 

7.1.3        Coney Hill Park will be developed using S.106 monies of £165k.

 

 

7.2       Name of the Officer: Steve Meers

 

8.0       LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

 

8.1       The terms of any Section 106 Agreement must be complied with unless there is a formal variation of the Agreement.  If this does not happen then Bellway can enforce the terms of the original agreement.

 

Similarly the terms and conditions on any land to which the Skate / BMX sites are to be relocated to need to be checked to ensure there are no restrictions in respect of the proposed use.

 

NB - Risk Management - the risks of ASB / Noise relating to the new location should be identified and mitigated.

 

8.2       Name of the Officer: Gary Spencer

 

9.0      RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

 

 

 

 

Risk

Impact

Likelihood

Score

Statement of Risk

Actions to mitigate risk

Anti-social behaviour if skate park remains in current location 

3

3

9

High

Proposed re-location of skate park

Noise pollution to surrounding residents if skate park remains in current location

2

4

8

High

Proposed re-location of skate park

Bellway homes request financial contribution from City Council

2

3

6

Low risk

Obtain letter agreeing to move

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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