Agenda item

The Skate Park Task Group will present a report on its findings following the consultation exercise undertaken to gage public interest in the proposed Riverside site.

The Board will be asked to consider its content and respond to any recommendations that may be contained.

The Chairman presented the report on the Skate Park Task Groups findings following a consultation exercise undertaken to gage public interest in the proposed Riverside site. 

In presenting the report the Chairman drew the Boards attention to the recommendations contained on page 51 of the agenda pack and proposed that these be approved by Board members. 

In opening up discussion to the floor the following points were made:

·         That the report provided by the Ombudsman to North Wiltshire District Council pre-unitary had been viewed by the Task Group as part of its considerations.  The report did not indicate that the Monkton Park site must be excluded in future; it related to procedural matters only.

·         The Task Group had been considering the possibility of a skate park in the Chippenham area for over 2 years.  It was important that the views of all those living in the Chippenham community area were taken into consideration as part of the Task Group’s consultation process.

·         The cost of undertaking the most recent noise impact assessment, as agreed by the Area Board in January 2012, was approximately £1,800 which had been paid for by central area board funding.  An additional noise assessment for the Monkton Park site would be commissioned from another independent consultant.

·         The results of the consultation exercise undertaken on the proposed River Island site, including the public consultation meeting held on 26 November, indicated that many of the local responses in objection were in favour that further consideration be given to the Monkton Park (next to Olympiad Leisure Centre) site as previously identified by the Task Group.

·         Ensuing discussion included requests that alternative sites should also be considered by the Task Group as a next step approach to ensure all options were fully considered and that the public should be consulted on the sites proposed.

·         All present were in agreement to the need of a skate park to cater for the needs as identified for the younger generation, noting that demographically Chippenham would continue to change resulting in an increase in the number of under 18s.

·         Although an indoor site would be welcomed by all it was also recognised that there were ongoing costs associated that the Council may not be able to maintain.  The Area Board would however welcome any private initiatives that should arise.

The Chairman, after considering the comments made, received a proposed amendment to the recommendations which were, upon vote, agreed as follows:

Decision:

1)    To appoint two new volunteers to the Task Group (Dick Stanger and Anthony Milner);

2)    The Public Protection Team to carry out a review of the design criterion, such as still to ensure that local residents have quiet enjoyment of their properties, and to report this for consideration at the next Area Board meeting;

3)    The Task Group commission a second noise assessment of the area near to the Olympiad Leisure Centre from a second independent noise expert;

4)    The Task Group engage with specialists to create a design for a possible skate park near The Olympiad Leisure Centre that will mitigate against noise;

5)    The Task Group to include CCTV in the project brief; and

6)    The Task Group as a matter of urgency undertake a further parallel review of other options beyond Monkton Park, such sites to be determined at the discretion of the Task Group.