Biggleswade skatepark initial designs revealed as Central Bedfordshire Council seeks feedback
Wednesday, 16 October 2019
The initial designs for the new Biggleswade skatepark are being revealed to the public next week.
We held a public consultation in March after agreeing to spend £200,000 to fund a new skatepark on the existing Chambers Way site. We are keen to ensure that the skatepark design is exciting and that it will meet the needs of a variety of users with different abilities, so users as well as residents were asked what they wanted included.
The feedback from the public confirmed that the skate park needed to be suitable for all, that concrete is the best material, with a Flow park as the preferred style. The most popular elements requested for the skatepark were a bowl, 3ft mini-ramp, manual pad, bank ramp and grind box.
The design and build contract was awarded to Maverick Skateparks who held an initial design meeting on Tuesday 1 October with local skateboarders, BMX and scooter riders with a range of ages and abilities. Their ideas have been incorporated into an initial design which will now be shared at a public engagement drop-in event on Wednesday, 23 October from 3pm to 8pm at the Biggleswade Town Council offices. This event will offer anyone who has an interest in the skatepark the opportunity to view the plans and give their comments.
The public can also see the designs and give their feedback on our website or in the entrance to Saxon Pool and Leisure Centre between Thursday, 24 October and Sunday, 3 November.
Councillor Ian Dalgarno, our Executive Member for Community Services, said:
Working with Maverick, we have carried out a session with skate park users to create an initial skate park design. The meeting was a great success with lots of good ideas and suggestions to create a unique and exciting skatepark for Biggleswade.
It was great to see some younger skaters and riders engaging in the design process as they will be the future users of the skatepark, and we would now love to hear from local residents and other skatepark users about what they think about the current design.
We are keen to provide a modern and exciting skate park that can be enjoyed for years to come. The new design will also help to reduce noise for local residents, and we will be upgrading the lighting and CCTV to help users feel safe.
Following the public feedback, the final designs will be prepared and submitted for planning approval. The public will then have a further chance to comment on the designs at that stage.