PLANS to refurbish a skatepark has been given the go ahead despite objections from parents.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s development control committee unanimously approved planning permission for the skatepark at the recreation ground in Common Road, Tadley. 

The application for refurbishment worth £150,000 was submitted by Tadley Town Council after launching a major campaign to raise money for the project earlier this year.

READ MORE: Tadley Council launch £150,000 project to rebuild skatepark

However, parents of some of the current users of the skatepark objected to the plan, saying “the age range specified for the new park is 6-10 years, whereas the original park is suited for all age ranges”.

Addressing the meeting, borough councillor Jo Slimin, who is also a member of Tadley Town Council, said this was a misconception and the new plan will make it “accessible for all”.

Cllr Slimin, who is the chair of the town council's recreation committee, said: “We were advised by the health and safety inspections carried out by the BDBC that the skateboard park was no longer repairable. Therefore, we were faced with the position of it being basically banned and had to be closed and therefore no skateboards. It is a much-loved facility, and it does actually attract older and more experienced riders of BMX and skateboards. We appreciate that.

“However, being the town council, we had to look at providing something, which had to actually meet the needs of all of the election of our area.

“So, we went out to Canvas Spaces that produced the one in the War Memorial Park who suggested this particular layout, which would actually be more useful, and accessible for more people – young and old – and for different people using different types of rollerblades, scooters and BMX and skateboards.”

Tadley Skatepark was first opened in early 2000s, but it was redeveloped to the current layout in 2010 in memory of two Tadley youths – Jake Burden, 18, and Lee Robinson, 16 – who died in a car crash in 2007.

It was built using the money from a fund set up in their memory. Those who objected to the plan have also complained that the families were not consulted about the new plan.

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Cllr Slimin said: “The family of two boys are still in the area and we made every attempt to consult with them. A newsletter that went out in February mentioned the skatepark and asking people to engage with us. We had very little engagement, unfortunately.

“So we as a council decided that we would go ahead with the application, because it's felt urgent.”