AFTER months of delay Haslemere skateboarders will have to wait until next month for their skate ramp.
Originally planned to be installed by the start of the school summer holidays, the ramp on a tennis court at The Herons leisure centre has been delayed yet again after complaints from neighbours about possible noise levels.
The erection of special acoustic fencing to deflect noise has now pushed the official opening date back to Tuesday, August 7.
The skate ramp will have the same opening hours as the leisure centre to comply with security arrangements at The Herons. At present the centre is open from 6 am to 10 pm Monday-Friday, 8 am to 7-30 pm on Saturday and 7 am to 9 pm on Sunday.
A spokesman for Waverley said there would be some flexibility over closing times of the ramp during the summer holidays because of the light evenings and initial demand for the new facility.
"The skatepark will probably be locked up slightly later," said the spokesman.
Concerns over the noise for residents were raised at a meeting of the Waverley Borough Council executive committee on Tuesday.
The meeting was told that eight letters had been received by the council following the consultation in June on the new position of the ramp, which is to be placed in one of the tennis courts.
"I have had letters and phone calls from residents who have been very concerned about the new location," Haslemere councillor Jean Mansley said.
Richard Gates, portfolio holder for cultural and leisure provision and youth, said the objections had been reviewed and visits paid to the residents, many from The Meads sheltered housing, which runs alongside the leisure centre in Shottermill.
Admitting that there "might be some disturbance", Mr Gates said that measures were being taken to limit the noise, but he added that the current tennis and basketball facilities in the court were "not without noise".
"We have agreed that a suitable acoustic barrier should be erected and the hours should be restricted to The Herons' opening times and be reviewed after six months."
He added that further landscaping is to take place to add to the plants already there and provide an extra sound barrier and screening.
"There is already substantial planting there. We will add evergreen planting which will be there all year round," he continued.
The ramps are being provided by Andy Peerless, an ex-professional skateboarder whose Godalming business manufactures skateboard ramps.
Mr Peerless has already provided ramps for the skateboarding facilities at Farnham and Cranleigh.
Additional car parking is to be provided as part of the proposal at the side of the leisure centre to compensate for the loss of overflow car parking from the tennis court.
A planning application for the car parking has been submitted and once determined the additional bays will be introduced.