Skatepark to come to town after 20-year fight

Skaters, scooter riders and BMXers in a Wiltshire town have been urged to share their views on a new skatepark.

People in Royal Wootton Bassett can suggest "must-have" items for the skatepark - which will be located at Coronation Country Park - such as rails or quarter piles.

The town's Skatepark Working Group, which includes residents and town councillors, has been working on the plans in earnest for the past two years, with the initial idea to create a skatepark suggested more than 20 years ago.

Councillor Steve Walls, from Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council, said he was "very pleased" with the plans and he was glad that people's perceptions of skateboarders had changed.

When an idea for a skatepark was first mooted the reaction was not wholly positive, he recalled.

"There were proposals for a skatepark over 20 years ago and a site was considered," he said.

"However, this project was not pursued at the time because of objections from local residents at the proposed site.

"At that time skateboarding was not regarded as a sport but a recreation for a minority of youngsters who could be very disruptive."

When the idea resurfaced 20 years on, it "became apparent there was a need" for it, Walls said.

The council took the project on and a working group was formed.

A contract was awarded to Maverick Skateparks after a town council meeting on 11 December.

As well as the questionnaire, launched this week, there will be school visits on 20 April to ask young people for their views as well as other in-person consultations across the town.

A spokesperson from Maverick Skateparks said: "We would love to get the views of the local riding community to help shape the design of their skatepark through our online survey.

"So far, we have received 781 responses which is the largest response we have had to an online survey."

Several skate events have been held in the town as plans for a dedicated facility progress, with a pop-up half-pipe at the Bassett Youth Festival in 2024.

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