This is the second successive year that Newbury Town Council has secured funding through central Government’s Playbuilder scheme. In 2009 the Town Council developed new and improved play areas at Bodin Gardens, Digby Road and Christie Heights which are well used. There have been delays in agreeing Playbuilder funding for 2010 whilst waiting for the outcome of the Government’s spending review. We are pleased to confirm that the Government has agreed to support some Playbuilder budgets and Newbury Town Council has received confirmation that a total of £127,000 of Playbuilder funding has been secured for the following schemes: Cromwell Road – play area (Partly supported by Thames Valley Police) Fifth Road Recreation Ground – play area (Wholly funded by Playbuilder) Victoria Park – Skatepark (Part contribution)
The new concrete skatepark in Victoria Park is partly funded by Greenham Common Trust and developer contributions (S106 monies). The new innovative state of the art facility will provide the opportunity to hold local and national competitions and will attract users from miles around. It fully meets the needs of skateboarders, BMX and scooter riders, catering for all age groups and skills.
Councillor Ifor Sheldon, Leader of the Council, said, “Newbury Town Council is committed to supporting improvements and creation of new play areas in Newbury. We are very pleased to receive Playbuilder support for proposed new playgrounds in Cromwell Road and Fifth Road residential areas as well as a new concrete skatepark in Victoria Park.”
Councillor Julian Swift-Hook added “The reinstatement of the Playbuilder funding will allow us to redirect funds to other much-needed improvements to Victoria Park playground at the same time. This is fantastic news and a win-win situation for the town”.
If you had children that were into this sort of thing I suspect you would feel different ! Teenage boys are seriously under catered for around here. Would you prefer them to roam the street ?
What a joke. A massive facility for a handful of people. The playground facilities in the park should have been updated first!
Quoted from 26
Stupid waste of money for a tiny minority.
It's not a handful just see on a nice day the number of young people giving it their all and having fun. I suspect this will be an item of pride for the teenagers. Perhaps you would rather they roamed the streets and ripped off your door mirror.
All the moans about kids on street corners, obese kids etc., etc., then the council gives them somewhere to go, somewhere to use the spent up energy and lose weight and what do we do... moan.
This facility will attract families from miles around. The kids get to play, the parents use Park Way and the other shops in town, including the pubs and restaurants. This increases footfall, footfall encourages shops into the town. More shops in town equals more jobs. Cannot remember the last time I said this, but well done to the council.
All the moans about kids on street corners, obese kids etc., etc., then the council gives them somewhere to go, somewhere to use the spent up energy and lose weight and what do we do... moan.
This facility will attract families from miles around. The kids get to play, the parents use Park Way and the other shops in town, including the pubs and restaurants. This increases footfall, footfall encourages shops into the town. More shops in town equals more jobs. Cannot remember the last time I said this, but well done to the council.
To paraphrase a popular saying. you can't please some of the people any of the time.
This looks like a welcome addition to the park and has already been pointed out caters for an often forgotten group.
User 23 couldn't agree with you more in this instance - but you appear to have said something entirely different on the thread - new skatepark - please clarify ?
User 23 couldn't agree with you more in this instance - but you appear to have said something entirely different on the thread - new skatepark - please clarify ?
User 23 couldn't agree with you more in this instance - but you appear to have said something entirely different on the thread - new skatepark - please clarify ?
He is suggesting that brian is being hypocritical; user23.3 is being ironic.
I'm currently neutral on the idea. The scale of the thing took me by surprise. I think its ability to 'create' jobs and for kids to 'lose weight' is possibly a bit over blown, but for those that like to skate, it will be a welcoming sight I would imagine. Lets hope the big kids don't hog all the best bits and bully the younger ones.
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