Children’s plea to council: ‘Give us a new skate park’
CHILDREN and parents filled Caistor Town Council’s chamber last week to plead with the authority to further plans for a new skate park.
As reported in the Rasen Mail in March, more than 600 people have joined a Facebook group to gather support for a skate park in Caistor, but progress since has been slow.
Last Thursday, parents and children asked the town council to look again at providing such a facility for the youth of the town.
Parent Sharon Wallace told councillors: “It’s been mentioned before about the BMX park and skate park and we wanted to gain momentum.
“Is it going to go ahead? Do you need any support and backing?”
Back in March this newspaper reported that the town council would look at siting the facility close to the cricket pitch off Brigg Road, but last week Mayor John Burns–Salmond said this site was not suitable as the only vehicular access was off Brigg Road and construction of such a facility would lead to HGVs destroying the cricket pitch and land drains.
He also pointed out that the ground was very wet and would be unusable during winter months.
But Coun Burns–Salmond said he felt an area in the sports ground would be “ideal” and that the council was committed to providing something for the children.
“We need to look seriously at how we can get the money for this, but we are committed to doing this,” he said.
Councillors heard that similar skate park projects in other towns had cost upwards of £80,000 to construct, but committed to searching for grant funding to help.
Coun Alan Caine said: “I think what is obvious is there is definitely a need for it and we have got to do something. We have been battling for this for 12 years.”
Town clerk Helen Pitman has now agreed to look at how the council can get funding for the skate park and the already established council working party is to welcome interested parents like Sharon Wallace onto the group.
Coun Burns–Salmond added: “We need a detailed plan and costings, then we can get funding.
“We need to ride the wave of community participation. We have a great track record of bringing the community into the town to try and get things done and give something back.”
Anyone wishing to get involved in the project can find out more by visiting the Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/311952415529490/
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Weather for Market Rasen
Saturday 18 May 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 12 C
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Wind direction: West
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