£120k secured for new multi-wheeled sports facility

Young people in Teignbridge are being encouraged to submit designs for a new multi-purpose outdoor sports facility worth more than £120,000.

Teignbridge District Council and Newton Abbot Town Council have teamed up with local organisations to replace the existing Buckland Skatepark with the new facility.

The announcement has been welcomed by the community of Buckland and Milber as well as its surrounding areas.

There are two opportunities for people to have their say by visiting www.teignbridge.gov.uk/bucklandskatepark or by stopping by at two local events:

Saturday 27 August, 12 - 5pm: Buckland Community Fun Day, Sandringham Park, Buckland, Newton Abbot TQ12 4HS

Saturday 29 October, 12 – 2pm: main consultation event at Buckland and Milber Community Centre, Gilbert Road, Newton Abbot TQ12 4HS

After months of hard work, the town council took over the lease in April for the area of land where the existing skatepark is situated.

The project has involved councillors, parents, young people and the community in raising funds and resolving issues to ensure the community has a site that can be used by many, and enjoyed for years to come.

Teignbridge worked with the town council, local councillors and partners and successfully applied to Viridor Credits Environmental Company for a major grant of £87,150 from the landfill tax community fund.

The design will take into account the views of local multi-wheeled users of all ages and abilities, including skateboard, scooter, BMX rider and inline skate users. The design will then be formally agreed and finalised by November, with plans for the skatepark to be constructed and opened in summer 2017.

Partners have been thanked for their generous contributions, which have helped raise a total of £130,500. They are: Viridor Credits Environmental Company, Teignbridge District Council, Newton Abbot Town Council, Newton Abbot Rotary Club, Dartmoor Vale Rotary Club, Active Communities, Teign Housing Community Chest, Kitsons Solicitors, Firewatch Group, Cllr Reg Windsor, Cllr Colin Parker, Cllr Gordon Hook and Cllr Eve Barisic.

Cllr George Gribble, Teignbridge District Council’s Deputy Leader and Executive Spokesman for Recreation and Leisure said:

“I welcome this fantastic news, made possible thanks to the range of partners coming together in providing funds. This is an asset which the community as a whole should be proud of and will benefit from for years to come.
“This is a great opportunity for the young people of Teignbridge to have their say in the design and I would encourage them to submit their designs.”

Phil Rowe, Newton Abbot Town Council Clerk said: “The Town Council is pleased to be involved in the replacement and improvement of this facility. It was instrumental in the creation of the existing park almost 20 years ago which has now come to the end of its workable life with elements being removed as unusable for Health and Safety reasons. The renewal and upgrading of the skatepark is absolutely essential and will give all local teenagers a much needed continuing activity. We will now aim to work diligently with all partners to ensure the construction of this scheme through to conclusion.”

Cllr Colin Parker, Teignbridge District Council ward member for Buckland and Milber and Newton Abbot Town Councillor said: “As district and town councillor for this most deserving of areas I am over the moon that this scheme is going to happen. As I have been involved from the outset with all resident and interested party discussions I can vouch it has not been easy to get to this point. Having presented to and persuaded the Town Council of the merits of the scheme, reviewing and agreeing the lease arrangements through to meeting with and extolling the virtues to the Viridor Loans assessor on site it is most gratifying to be where are now. My personal thanks go to Viridor for their substantial funding offer and all other groups and individuals; too many to mention; who have pledged generous donations towards this project and also the children, parents and other people for their participation.

“Individually this project would not have been successful without the management of Active Leisure Development Officer Nikki Taylor from Teignbridge in conjunction with Sam Scott the Deputy Town Clerk of  Newton Abbot Town Council.

“However this is a scheme for the benefit of the youngsters from Buckland, Milber and surrounding areas. Please come along to Buckland Fun Day and the consultation day at the Community Centre on Sat 29th Oct where final design will be decided. Well done and good luck to everyone.”

Cllr Gordon Hook, Teignbridge District Council ward member for Buckland and Milber and Devon County Councillor for Newton Abbot South said: "I'm delighted to have been able to help with the funding of this reinvigorated facility. I know how much pleasure the skatepark has already provided and I sincerely hope hundreds of youngsters will get thousands of hours of pleasure and physical benefit from the new challenges."

Cllr Reg Winsor, Teignbridge District Council ward member for Buckland and Milber said: “It’s really great news to see such a range of partners and the local community coming together for this project. I would like to thank everyone involved for their generous contributions as well as their time and effort.

John Lockwood, CEO of Viridor Credits said: “Facilities like skateparks are becoming an increasingly-important community asset that people of any age can enjoy. The Viridor Credits Board was impressed by the level of community involvement with this project.”

Nick James, Practice Manager at Kitsons Solicitors said:

“At Kitsons we know the importance and the impact sport has on the local community. We are delighted to be a part of this excellent project that can make a real difference to the lives of young people in the area. The hard work of everyone involved has paid off in real value and will be felt across Buckland for many years to come.”