Council staff are to look at ways of cutting the noise made by skateboarders using the equipment at Haverhill skatepark although it's recognised there may be may be no alternative to closure.
At last week's meeting of St Edmundsbury's Cabinet (2 June) members heard that a detailed investigation had been carried out into the decision to site the skatepark off Howe Road. The report concluded that the proper processes had been used, and that early problems with anti-social behaviour were being tackled. But measurements of noise levels showed they were at unacceptably high levels, especially "impact noise", the thumps, bangs and clanking noises made as skateboarders used the equipment.
Cabinet heard that the skatepark has been tremendously successful since it opened. While nearby residents, led by Richard Spring MP had campaigned for the skatepark's closure, fears were expressed by Haverhill Town Council in a letter to Cabinet members about the possible damage and nuisance that will occur elsewhere in the town if it closed.
At the Cabinet meeting members expressed their disappointment at the situation and, acknowledging the extreme popularity of the facility, pledged to ensure that the mobile skatepark be made as widely available as possible in Haverhill if the skatepark had to close. Meanwhile, Cabinet decided, council staff will "use their best endeavours to urgently explore the possibility of sound attenuation works to the skatepark". The idea is to pilot noise cutting measures on some of the equipment and, if successful, carry out more work on the rest. Cabinet also accepted "it be recognised that the closure of this site may have to take place is these measures are ineffective".
Cabinet members also decided to look at the implications of providing alternative permanent sites in Haverhill, including the possibility of a number of smaller sites instead of one large site. And the Overview and Scrutiny Committee is to take a detailed look at the process which led to the existing site being chosen and potential new sites.
Cabinet member for Leisure and Sport, Cllr Terry Clements, said:
"It is incredibly disappointing to have to accept that we may need to close what has become such a popular facility in Haverhill. We will do all we can to see if there is any way in which the noise can be cut back, so the skatepark's neighbours don't have to live with the levels of noise being generated. But I accept that there may be no alternative to closure, in which case we will do our utmost to make sure Haverhill's skateboarders don't lose out. They have been patient with us for a long time and I'm asking them to be patient a little longer while we work on a solution."
ENDS
Contacts:
Cllr Terry Clements, Portfolio holder for Leisure and Sport:
Group leaders
Cllr John Griffiths, Conservative:
Cllr Sheila Wormleighton, Labour:
Cllr Mike Ames, Independent:
Cllr Allan Jones, Liberal Democrat:
Cllr David Nettleton, Real Independent:
ISSUED BY MARIANNE HULLAND, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757034. marianne.hulland@stedsbc.gov.uk
