Skate park makeover begins with £8,000 mini-ramp

A NEW mini-ramp has been installed at Watlington skate park.

The old halfpipe was removed last year as it had become too dangerous to use.

The £8,000 replacement ramp was paid for by the parish council and a donation from the Beacon Festival. It is16ft wide and 4ft high with a treated plywood surface and is suitable for all ages. It was built by A1 Skate Ramps, of Essex.

Ian Roxburgh, a member of the Watlington Wheels Project, said: “The old halfpipe in Watlington stood for as long as people can remember and was, for many, a rite of passage.

“While it served the town well over the years, it got to the point where it was in a bad condition and became too dangerous to use. The new ramp has been built for all ages and abilities, whether they ride a skateboard, BMX, rollerblade or a scooter. Members would like to thank the parish council and the Beacon Festival.”

The wheels project is now working with the council on refurbishing the bowl at Watlington Recreation Ground.

The bowl was built in 1990 with the support of the council and film star Jeremy Irons, who lives in the town and whose son was a skateboarder in his youth.

Mr Roxburgh added: “Without Mr Irons’s input, the bowl may never have happened. We want to redevelop and improve the facility at the skate park and need donations and support to make it happen. The skate park is in dire need of refurbishment. Once a hub of activity and community engagement, it has progressively deteriorated over the years. It has failed to keep pace with the growing demand for modern recreational facilities that can cater to our diverse and vibrant community.”

The Watlington Wheels Project is a registered charity. Its volunteers have worked for more than 10 years to maintain the upkeep of the skate park at the Love Lane recreation ground. It relies on volunteers and donations to keep the park clean and rideable. Some members of the project are qualified coaches who give lessons.

Mr Roxburgh said: “They will be resuming lessons when the weather gets better and now they have a mini ramp to help that process. It’s about revitalising community spirit, fostering inclusion, promoting physical activity, communication skills and teamwork and giving the youth of Watlington a safe space to express themselves freely. Hopefully it will also help some kids who may be suffering from anxiety, depression, isolation and loneliness.”

With the help of Roots Longboards, the project is selling T-shirts to create awareness. They come in various colours including navy, khaki, pink and bright blue. They costs £25 for adults and £20 for children under 12 and all the profits go to the project. Visit https://rootslongboards.com

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