SKATEBOARDERS and BMX and scooter riders can look forward to improved facilities after Alton Town Council’s open spaces committee agreed in principle to progress the replacement of the skatepark at Jubilee Fields and to improve the skatepark at Anstey Park.

Following a site visit to the Jubilee Fields skatepark site on July 25, which was attended by users, it was decided to form a task and finish working group from interested parties to consider the design and layout, invite suppliers to quote and then, through public consultation, chose the preferred design to submit to the next open spaces committee meeting.

The decision was taken following a discussion with skatepark users on the merits and issues around the current facility at Jubilee Fields.

The primary concerns were over metal surfacing which can cause glare and was too hot to skate on in the sun. It was felt that concrete was a better surface and, while it takes longer to bed in, in the longer term it presents less issues for skaters and riders and is easier to maintain.

There was discussion too over using the slope of the bank alongside the skatepark by installing sleepers to be used for seating.

Chaired by councillor Graham Hill, the meeting heard that when the equipment was first installed at Jubilee Fields more than 15 years ago it was considered “quite challenging” whereas today it is not and is therefore not necessarily fit for purpose.

It was further considered that while the skatepark at Anstey Park was designed for younger and more inexperienced users, the Jubilee Fields facility should be more advanced and, if the facilities were improved, it would lend itself to having regular events and could become more of a hub like the parks at Farnham and Bordon.

One resident suggested that, if this were the case, it would have wider appeal and bring footfall into the town, as she currently takes her son to the skatepark in Bordon and does her shopping there before picking him up again.

It was suggested that councillors might like to look at the skateparks in Winchester and ‘Sol Jole’ in Reading, as well as Farnham and Bordon, to see some good examples of successful layouts.

On a practical level, users pointed out that there were was an issue at Anstey Park as some of the concrete required remedial work where cracks had appeared in the surfacing of the skatepark facility.

Attendees said they would be happy to provide input to a task and finish working group to progress these ideas.