ALTON Town Council working party members Pam Bradford and Jimmy Patel, deputy town clerk Greg Burt and contractor Maurice Smith cast an eye over the final stages of construction of Alton's impressive new skate park in Anstey Park this week. Expected to be open for use from April 11, the completion of the project will mark the successful conclusion of year's of determined hard work and dedication by Alton Town Council to provide a much-needed skate park facility for young people living at the northern end of town. Costed in 2003 at around £40,000, prolonged public consultation, changes in design to accommodate public input, signage to comply with health and safety and landscaping have conspired to double the figure which now stands at £80,000. Last July, East Hampshire District Council's north west area community committee approved developer contribution funding of £45k towards the scheme with a grant of £10k coming from the Hampshire Children's Fund to make up a £55k package. Further changes to the scheme including off- site construction of the ramps, enabling them to be easily moved should the need arise, forced the price up yet further and last week the NW area community committee approved the release of another £25k of developer contributions. The next job for contractors, Bendcrete Leisure Ltd is to lay a special smooth concrete to secure the ramps in position. While the concrete must be left alone to set for four days the hope is that people will respect this and keep off. "The skaters are responsible kids, and not everyone appreciates that," said Ms Bradford. She, like the contractors, is hoping that, weather permitting, the laying of the concrete will go to plan and that the contractors will meet the anticipated opening date but that will very much depend on public co-operation. In a polite request, Alton Town Council is urging visitors to leave the concrete well alone, so that the entire community can reap the rewards of this facility.
