Hopes for a new skatepark in Bradford on Avon are one step closer now as the town council votes to dedicate £100,000 to the project.

Bradford Town Council has elected to ring-fence £100,000 towards a new skatepark at Poulton Fields at its full town council meeting this week – a project which is estimated to cost £280,000. Through public donations the cause has raised more than £8,000 towards a new skatepark.

Other sites, including one of Victory Fields, had been suggested, but according to deputy mayor, Alex Kay, it would be difficult to get permission for the sites. Adding that a skatepark on the site would take away a football field from the town.

The design image for the new Bradford on Avon skatepark

The design image for the new Bradford on Avon skatepark

Cllr Jim Lynch argued that the people of Bradford deserved to be consulted on the three locations for the project and raised concerns around anti-social behaviour on the former skatepark on Poulton.

He proposed the town council should undertake community consultation “swiftly” post-Covid but pulled this following the councillor’s debate.

However, these concerns over anti-social behaviour were batted away by other councillors and some of the historic town’s skater community.

Cllr Newton said there was “on-going consultation” adding that the design work will not be signed off to late in the day due to it being entirely dependent on the level of funding.

Kai Jenson, 14, one of the young skaters who had an opportunity to speak to the town council said: “Me and my friends have been trying to get this built for such a long time, that just getting a design and getting a place and getting it done is all we need. We don’t need to mull over it anymore.”

 

Cllrs Sarah Gibson said she supported the project but added there was no reason why asking the question if Poulton Field was the best site should cause a delay in the process.

Cllr Thomas Lomax said he was happy with the public consultation and said the order of the day was to “get it done well and quickly”.

However, Cllr Lynch argued that there was no public consultation on the location of the skatepark.

The vote to dedicate £100,000 for the skatepark project on Poulton fields passed with nine councillors for, and Cllrs Mike Roberts, Laurie Brown and Lynch abstaining.