Ashmore Park Skate Park

Ashmore Park Skate Park is still a viable option! It does seem a long time since it was first requested, but officers of the Authority inform me that tenders were received on the 23rd December and consultation with local young people has taken place over the last few weeks.

A design has been chosen which should meet local skaters needs, and will also provide the counciltax payer with a value for money project.

The equipment should be in situ within the next six- eight weeks, in time for the Spring and Summer. I hope that this action makes a lot of happy skaters!"

There has been much interest in having such a facility for some time now. Nearly all the voluntary and support organisations that are active in Wednesfield North support the development of a Skate Park for youngsters.

That has included Wednesfield North Labour Party, Ashmore Park Police Liaison Committee, the Ashmore Park Youth Club and of course Councillors Dave Jones and Phil Bateman, who have been campaigning for this development for sometime.



So why is a Skate Park required? The answer said Councillor Dave Jones "is in the fact that the local skate park club Tuesday evenings gatherings continue to attract 50 to 60 young people! This is such a success that additional session's are now planned. Also we want to get the kids off skate boarding on the shopping parade, and we know that is seen as a nuisance by many!

If we want to challenge young people and take them off the streets, then it is this sort of popular activity that will do it!

It isn't things that are imposed by adults that is the key...

The Skate Park funding looks now to be obtained, with a grant being made available of £10, 000 from the Local Area Forum, and £8,450 from Wolverhampton City Council Small Grants Scheme - Community Initiatives.

The Local Area Forum deserve a very big ''pat on the back'' for backing this scheme in the way that they have done."



Councillor Phil Bateman added " I understand the youngsters are now designing their own skate park, meeting with equipment manufacturers. This sounds exciting and will do much to give the young people ownership of the facility. The City Council is currently working with the group to ensure the right space is allocated within the Ashmore Park to fit the skate park in. There is also a request that some further additional resource is identified.

But all in all the scheme is rapidly approaching the time when a new and exciting development will be added to the Ashmore Park that in theory with the BMX track, and Wednesfield Aces Cycle Speedway be a very attractive venue for youngsters interested in these type of (wheeled) sporting activities.

I am further informed that it is feasible that by November of this year this development could be approaching opening!.

Both Councillor Dave Jones and I see this initiative in Ashmore Park as a catalyst for the ongoing sporting development of our community.We want to ensure that not only do we provide for local youths and families, but like Wednesfield Aces have done. We want to see sporting excellence achieved.

We both believe that this latest facility will do much to provide sporting opportunity in our local neighbourhood, we will endeavour to keep the community informed."