Skatepark update 10 March 2010

Lichfield Skatepark Update 10-March-2010

A representative from Reload Clothing attended the latest meeting between the LSA and Lichfield District Council concerning the Skatepark.
Initially the two parties were still debating the budget that will be set for the skatepark The LSA had reduced their budget target to get things moving, they had reduced from £400,000 to £350,000 however the Lichfield DC would not compromise and the budget was set at £300,000.
One point to be noted was that the skating surface will be 1500m2 including the internal landscaping (external landscaping such as paths etc will not be paid for out of the budget of £300,000). Again the Lichfield DC would not move on this.
Let’s hope there isn’t too much internal landscaping!
At least things are progressing and an advert tendering for the design of the skatepark has been placed in March’s edition of Sidewalk magazine and also Landscape Institute magazine. All interested designers have to have replied by April 30th.
There was a lot of discussion and concerns raised about the quality of the materials used to build the skatepark. Everyone was in agreement that it should be built to a high standard.
Both parties are now starting to apply to various organisations for funding, there is still a lot of work to do to raise the money needed to fund this project.
Anyone interested in donating any monies to the skatepark need to contact the LSA.
Other news is that the mobile skatepark is being delivered at the end of March and it has a new deluxe skate surface. This will be assembled in the Friary sports centre, sports hall during the Easter holidays and is free for all to use. There was also discussion about it being assembled outdoors during the summer months but this has yet to be confirmed.
One last point for all the skaters, there have been a lot of complaints about skateboarding in the City Arcade (off Bore Street), outside Marks & Spencer’s, the Garrick and Aldi. It may seem that the police are coming down hard but there are elderly people who are fed up with the sound of skateboards going up and down the street during unsociable hours, put yourself in their position I bet you wouldn’t like it! The other side of this is if you continue to skate in these areas you may find that when it comes to the public consultation during the planning phase there may be a lot of opposition against the skatepark and it may swing the other way. There has been a lot of hard work put into getting this skatepark built and it is finally going ahead, let’s not spoil it.