Skate board park

I got pinged back from the WFA on the skateboard park issue basically the proposed site for it. According to Fran "Stourport Town Council did NOT object to the siting when the scrutiny exercise was held" So it's their fault they had their chance and blew it.

So I decided to look into the decision procession; this was fun, multiple tabs with PDF documents, having to use Adobe Reader's own search facility, then falling back on Google just to locate the Community and Leisure Services Policy and Scrutiny Panel minutes. For most people this is going to be boring, sorry just skip this entire entry.

Right, on 23rd September 2004 it was decided to form a Task and Finish Group to look into the prospects of a skate board park for the district.

A Member advised the Group that Stourport-on-Severn Town Centre Forum had undertaken some exploratory work into skateboarding within the area and that the Chairman of the Forum, Derek Fradgley, might like to attend a future meeting to give his views.
Recommendation: Members of the Task and Finish Group meet with the Cultural Services Manager, the Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services and representatives from relevant outside organisations.

23rd November 2004: Group reports back are mentioned

That, as Stourport remains the only strategic location without any funding allocated to the project, the Panel recommend that a service option be put forward for the Stourport project for £5,000 which could be allocated to Stourport Forward as ‘pump priming’ funding. [and] That consultation takes place with young people regarding any potential projects and that young people be involved in fundraising for skateboarding schemes.

16th December 2004: The findings were reported to the Cabinet and reviewed

It was suggested that further consultation should take place with the Chair of the Youth Strategy Group, the Skateboarding Group, the Fun Box Committee, and residents and users in Offmore and Comberton. It was felt that a lot more of the people actively involved in skateboarding should be asked to give evidence for the scrutiny exercise.

and was kicked back to the Group via the Scrutiny committee.

26th January 2005: The Cabinet Scrutiny Committee kicks it back to the Task and Finish group.

Okay here's where things get interesting (well relatively)

10th March 2005: The Community and Leisure Services Policy & Scrutiny Panel discuses the Task Group report

It was mentioned that Stourport Riverside would make a good site for a skate-park as it was in the town centre with easy access for all. It was noted that the half-pipe on the Walshes Estate in Areley Kings was underused. When questioned about using the site behind the Old Beams Pub in Stourport, the Panel was told that it was used as the over-spill for the car park at the leisure centre and therefore, could not be used.

This is the first time the Riverside is mentioned, and the Old Beams site dismissed.

No specific site is mentioned in the briefing paper.

8th September 2005: Another Task group is set up, one to continue the skate-board park the other to consider Youth Provision in the District.

The attached report shows who they consider to include in the deliberations. Remember the Riverside was mentioned back in March and nothing is mentioned here.

17th November 2005: Short and sweet they reported that the Brinton Park skate-park had opened, they'd watched a DVD, discussed the temporary skate-park and that

There would be meetings with the police, Wyre Forest Community Housing and Stourport Forward and the Group was also due to meet young skateboarders at a
future meeting.

Still no mention of location, nor Stourport Town Council.

5th January 2006: Lists people that the Task and Finish Group had met:

• Councillor Fran Oborski, Chairman of the Wyre Forest Youth Strategy Group.
• Liz Durnell, Programme Manager, Stourport Forward.
• Peter Banford, The Community Housing Group
• PC Andrew Brookes-Davis, Stourport.
• PC Nigel Barter, Bewdley.

Hmm nobody from Stourport Town Council?

9th March 2006: The scrutiny review

It was acknowledged that the Riverside would be an ideal place for a skatepark, but that it would be likely to cause some controversy with local residents who might oppose it.

Any more discussion on other sites? Hmm appears not, but what about those pesky residents?

The Cultural Services Manager advised that the Council would have to consult with local residents but did not feel that there would be many objections as the skate park would be further away from residents than, for example, the trampoline. She explained that the suggested area adjacent to the paddling pool was bigger than that at Brinton Park.

Out of sight..., and where did the size quote suddenly appear from?

Okay final meeting 27th April 2006: The final shove from the Cabinet

1. A skate park be provided at Stourport Riverside to be located near the paddling pool, subject to the Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services agreeing funding for the project.

Stourport Town Council now get a mention too in that

3. Officers approach Stourport Town Council for additional funding.

It's going to be next to the paddling pool; now give us some money?

Okay I'll state for the record these are taking from the reports and minutes of meetings. I acknowledge that Minutes are not verbatim records, they list the decisions and the processes leading up to them.

Right having said that it appears that the only discussion as to siting of the skate-park was on the 10th March 2005 with only one alternative mentioned, from that point onwards it seems to be taken as a fixed decision. Stourport Town Council are mentioned only in the final report, and that simply to ask for funds. Am I making accusations - no. I've linked to all the documentation in chronological order read them for yourself and make up your own mind.