This consultation is now closed.
We want to hear your views on the future of an Ashbourne skate park that has become a regular target for vandalism.
Closed a year ago after a fire started in the skate park resulted in £300,000 worth of damage and loss of income at the District Council's adjoining Ashbourne Leisure Centre, the facility has cost the council an additional £22,500 in repairs and maintenance since it opened 11 years ago.
According to specialists, the skate park will cost as much as £7,000 to put right but probably has a life expectancy of only another two years.
Our Community and Environment Committee have agreed to ask the public to have their say on three options:
- to re-open the skate park at a cost of around £7,000 to extend its life for another two years,
- relocate the facility at a cost of £35,000 plus ground works, for which external funding could be applied for, or
- close it altogether.
As part of the consultation, local people will also be invited to suggest other viable alternatives.
Although the District council has regularly met with police, local volunteer groups and Derbyshire County Council in an attempt to solve problems at the park, anti-social behaviour continues, despite the introduction of CCTV and litter bins. The park had become a meeting place for young people to consume alcohol, broken glass was frequently found at the site and evidence of drug taking had been found.
The closing date for the consultation exercise is 12 noon on Friday 21 August 2015. A report will be considered by Council on 24 September 2015.
Councillors agreed that the skate park would remain closed during the public consultation process.