Fears over skatepark clean-up

A skatepark which cost £87,000 to create at Stourport and which many people claimed would be in the wrong place has been out of action because of flooding.

Now local residents fear the cost of cleaning up the area will fall on council ratepayers. But councillors maintain that it was the right site because that is where all of the children's play equipment is based. The park was officially opened at Stourport's Riverside Meadows with demonstrations by sporting champion and extreme skateboarder Neil Danns in August.

He visited in his role as Sporting Champion aiming to motivate young people to take up sport.

Councillors chose the site after lengthy talks and meetings with young people who were asked about the design and layout.

This followed concern that youngsters in the area were bored and causing havoc on the Walshes Estate by tearing down wooden fencing to use as ramps for their bikes and skateboards.

Research at the time showed that there were about 2,788 young people, aged between eight and 20-years-old living around the town.

But although people were in favour of the skatepark project some town councillors felt it would be in the wrong place and could be subject to flooding. Now many claim their fears have proved to be correct as the skatepark has been covered by rising flood water.

Wyre Forest District councillor Bill Jones said: "We had nothing against the skatepark but recently it has been under three feet of water and cannot be used.

"It was built next to the children's paddling pool at the Riverside.

"We wanted to see it on a different site and felt an area on the car park at the swimming baths would have been far better.

"We knew it would flood but they took no notice."

Wyre Forest District Council leader councillor John Campion said: "We know the Riverside Park gets flooded one week every couple of years but that is where the toilets, swings, pitch-and-putt and children's play equipment is sited."