Council says final NO to skatepark at Lake Grounds

CAMPAIGNERS battling to build a second skate park in Portishead have set themselves a three month time limit to find a suitable site – and will disband the group if the search proves fruitless.

Portishead Skatepark Project (PSP) was told this week its final attempt at securing landlord's consent from North Somerset Council to install a skate park on a section of land between the children's play area and the boathouse at the Lake Grounds had failed.

Authority chiefs have already refused permission for the skate park but the matter was then called to a scrutiny panel which asked executive member for asset management, Councillor Tony Lake, to review his decision.

Mr Lake announced that he was to stand by his original decision – to refuse consent – at a meeting of North Somerset Council this week.

PSP leaders say they are 'bitterly disappointed'  but added they were still willing to revisit other sites previously put forward for a skate park.

But they are warning that if a suitable site cannot be found in the next three months they will disband the group.

PSP spokesman, Jon Gething, said: "PSP is bitterly disappointed that six years of hard work by the group supported by hundreds of young people in the town, have resulted in failure.

"We would like to apologise to the young people of the town, whose hopes we have raised time and time again, for the fact that we have failed to convince the five Portishead district councillors on whom this decision rests, to let us develop a site at the Lake Grounds.

"We know this is the best site and would have made a superb and successful facility for the town's young and not so young bmx riders, skaters and scooter riders."

Portishead Town Council has already set up a working party to look at potential sites for a 'wheels park' in Portishead.

PSP has been searching for a site for a new skate park for the last two years and initially identified 16 potential areas including land at Bristol Road, a plot next to Parish Wharf Leisure Centre, Kilkenny Fields and the Lake Grounds.

Other sites, including one at Gordano School and one owned by a developer in the centre of Portishead have also been put forward as options.

A small skate park was opened at Merlin Park in 2003 at a cost of £12,500, but as the popularity of the sport has soared so has the need for a bigger facility.

The town council will now move forward with its proposal to look for an alternative suitable site for a wheels park in the town.

Mr Gething added: "We are told that the town council have other sites that may be suitable. "At present we haven't been told about these but we are very willing to sit down this week with councillors to look at any new sites and revisit the other 16 sites that we have assessed over the past six years.

"Our only wish is to provide a successful new skate park in a reasonably central location in the town so, naturally, we are happy to work with the town council to find a suitable site. "However, after six years, our patience and dedication has been sorely tested by the outcome of the last few weeks and if no suitable site can be found and agreed in the next three months, and the Lake Grounds has been ruled out, then we will disband the project."