Skate Park

In 2024, the Parish Council formed a new skatepark group with some old faces and some new. The skate park working group is focused on delivering the multiuse skatepark for Long Ashton.

The working group has been asked to engage you the community and to revisit the site options in order to develop a safe and accessible skate park that can be used by a range of users including skateboarders, cycle/BMX, scooters and wheelchair.

November 2024

We've decided to defer the skate park decision on next steps to ensure that Council can make the most informed choice possible.

This means that Agenda Item 7 (detailed below) will not be discussed and decided at the Full Council meeting on Monday 27 November 2024.

The Working Group needs more time to fully explore the potential option of the LACA site. It's important to us that it's thoroughly evaluated.

Decision-making on next steps is slow going, but we're committed to getting it right. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

We aim to revisit this in January or March next year. We'll keep you updated.

Your support and engagement are invaluable. Let's continue to work together for the betterment of our community.

November 2024

Take a look at the results and analysis of our recent community survey, kindly done by the members of the Skate Park Working Group, concerning the potential locations for a skate park.👉 Survey Analysis Presentation 👈

On Monday 25 Nov 2024 there's a Full Council meeting, where the following agenda item will be discussed and decided by Councillors. We welcome you all to attend.

Item 7 Skatepark Project

To determine the next steps for the Long Ashton skatepark project following consideration of proposals for both the Community Centre (LACA) and Peel Park sites. To consider the proposed options and vote on either:

a) To pursue a Lawful Development Certificate (£150) for a skatepark at the Community Centre site adjacent to the Multi Use Games Area, following indication from North Somerset Council that this may fall under permitted development rights.

b) To approve expenditure of £1,500 (excluding VAT) for a professional sound survey at Peel Park Site 1, as noise impact has been identified as a key consideration in achieving planning permission at this location.

Note that there is an additional potential site being discussed (7a). A map is below to show where exactly that is.

The Council is really keen to take next steps!

June 2024

There have been two events to engage with the community about possible site options for the skate park.

Residents are now encouraged to provide their input through a survey. This survey is your chance to tell us your preferences about the (Parish Council owned) sites. Or perhaps you want us to consider exploring potential land acquisitions within the village boundaries? Or perhaps you don't want a skate park. Tell us your thoughts via the survey.

The results of this survey will be presented to the Parish Council. The results will inform the council of local preference. Other checks of the potential sites need to be made, such a planning discussions with North Somerset Council Planning Department. We are open to other suggestions.

Your comments will not be published but will inform the council.

This survey has been printed in the Parish Council's Summer newsletter which has been delivered to all homes in Long Ashton and Leigh Woods during June 2024. It can be pulled out from the middle of the newsletter, completed, and returned to the post box by the main doors of the village hall at Long Ashton Community Centre.

The survey closes on 5 August 2024.

(The last survey asked residents what sort of skate park they wanted. This survey is asking residents what their preferred site is.)

May 2024

On Mon 22 April, the skate park working group gave a presentation on possible site options and their pros and cons at the Annual Meeting of the Parish - Resident's Meeting (hosted by the Parish Council). There was an informal Q&A session after.

To engage with a wider range of people, the presentation will be given again on Sun 19 May at 3pm at the Village Hall (Long Ashton Community Centre). There will be an informal Q&A session after.

April 2024

The working group is working to an agreement by the council 5 years ago on having a community multi use skate park in Long Ashton.

Peel Park had been chosen as the preferred site. A tender that had gone out for the design and build at that site is believed to still be valid, if that site is still the preferred option.

The tender was won by a local skate park company called Canvas. However, a local poll showed 90% support for a competing design which created a degree of local concern, which must be addressed.

It was decided to expand the working group (which now includes a more diverse age range) and generate more engagement with the community to better understand what the community wants and answer any concerns raised.

The council and working group felt it crucial to consult further with the community, to ensure they are fully engaged on all the sites that have been considered suitable for development, so an informed decision can be made.

Keep up to date and join the discussion! Join the LA Wheels Facebook group.

Find out more about the skate park working group.

There have been two public consultation events to discuss where the skate park could be built. Interested in the Q&As from those events? Find them below.