Lyme Regis: 1,000-strong petition for skatepark (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Lyme Regis: 1,000-strong petition for skatepark

10:23am Thursday 10th December 2009

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SUPPORTERS of the proposed skatepark in Lyme Regis will present a petition with more than 1,000 signatures to the town council.

Project leaders have come up against resistance from worried residents who live near Charmouth Road car park, the most promising site for the new facility.

But the supporters say the response to their petition shows there is strong backing from the rest of the community.

They are now preparing to present it to Lyme Regis Town Council – which is leading the skatepark project – at its meeting next Wednesday.

Former teacher and youth counsellor Joy Uglow, of North Avenue, Lyme Regis, is leading the petition. She said: “There is a great need for a skatepark, and that need has been there for a long time.

“I think the young people in the town deserve some facilities and that’s the main reason I’m trying to help identify the need and support them in getting the skatepark.

“I feel you can judge a community by how it treats its children and young people. A group of us wanted to show it’s not just young people who want the facility – the general community and even us older citizens are in support of it too.”

But objectors say they agree a skatepark should be established in the town but claim Charmouth Road car park is the wrong place for it.

Charmouth Road resident Geraldine Abbott said: “A facility is needed but it’s not a facility at any cost – it has to be a suitable, safe place for young people to play in and one that doesn’t disturb local residents.

“It’s too near neighbouring properties, and sound tests have already identified that it would be a noise nuisance for residents living nearby.

“We had an unofficial skatepark built by young people some months ago that caused an awful lot of noise and anti-social behaviour.”

Ms Abbott added: “We are very concerned it’s going to be open 24 hours a day. It’s an isolated area and with youngsters playing up there on their own, there is the possibility they are at risk.

“In terms of business in the summer and other months, we are really surprised the council would consider such loss of car parking space.”

The car park is the only site currently under consideration by planning authority West Dorset District Council, which also owns the land.

Community support team leader Tony Hurley said: “West Dorset District Council supports in principle the town council’s efforts to progress the skatepark project on the Charmouth Road car park site, subject to all necessary consents.”

Harry Warren, a youth worker with Dorset Community Youth Service, is setting up a forum of young people to take the project forward. He said: “I think it’s a pretty ideal site. Obviously in a small town like Lyme Regis you are never going to get the perfect site but this certainly ticks a lot of the boxes.

“I know there are some residents there that are unhappy with the plans so what we are trying to do next year is break down those barriers and set up meetings between the skaters and residents to dispel the myths.”

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