Your Driffield Councillors

Skatepark - support from all sides

Over 60 people attended a public meeting on Tuesday October 30^th, to discuss the feasibility of a skate/BMX park for Driffield youngsters. There were representatives from the Town Council, ERYC, Driffield Secondary School, and residents adjoining North End Park, along with parents and youngsters keen to get things moving. The mood of the meeting was one of urgency. A committee was formed of parents, councillors, young people, who along with play development and other officers of the East Riding will hopefully take the impetus forward.

A cautionary note was sounded by local residents on the siting of the park,. The historic nature of North End Park as a children's playground cannot be considered an endorsement of a skatepark being built there. This project should not adversely affect residents or create tension between residents and users. The site for the park itself was the biggest stumbling block to progress although much of the meeting was in favour of using the school site.

I believe there are four areas to consider:

The committee now in place starts the process on these issues. There is a variety of possible funding streams, Prince's Trust, SRB money, Sport England, and Lottery. East Riding Officers have already given an undertaking to help with any bids. Town Cllr Paul Rounding who chaired the public meeting was also keen to have the Town Council contribute, either by way of direct funding, the use of developers' amenity funds or by help with insurance. He will be putting this to the Driffield Council on Tuesday and taking the answer to the next skateboard committee meeting on Thursday 8^th November.

East Riding Council's Sports Development are hosting a Course on Skatepark management and Cllr Felicity Temple and four members of the committee will be attending the course on Saturday 10^th November.