ALTON Town CouncilÕs revised plans for a skate park facility at Anstey Park have met with opposition from local residents.
The council has received a number of letters objecting to the new siting of the facility, amended after a successful public consultation exercise, which included an exhibition held at the Finnimore Pavilion attended by approximately 150 people.
The council had previously approved the principle of building a skate park in Anstey Park, to serve skaters in the north of the town and Holybourne, after an approach by young people in these areas.
The main worries about the first site were noise inconvenience to nearby residents, and the concern that the location would encourage further anti-social behaviour in the park.
After another survey of the park, the council came up with a possible alternative. The new site is located in the southernmost corner of the park, between the tennis court and the hedge, close to the junction of Anstey Road and Anstey Lane.
One of the latest letters of objection was written by Nathan Buckell. The letter took issue with the town council document sent to residents outlining the new proposals, and argued with the points of advantage put forward by the town council within it.
The letter stated: ÒIt is true that the area currently is not used for any formal activities. However, the site is in an area which is well used by dog walkers and runners, as well as picnickers for events such as the Watercress Bus Rally.
ÒTo state as an advantage that the site can be seen from Anstey Road, along with the statement saying; Ôthe presence of sports users on the adjacent courts should help police the facilityÕ, suggests that the town council is expecting some sort of social disorder or anti-social behaviour to take place.
ÒYou state that the tennis/netball court lights are switched off at 10 pm. I would suggest that in the summer months, youths are likely to linger on at the proposed site late into the evening and possibly until the early hours. This will prolong its use when people in the locality want the quiet enjoyment of their properties.
ÒTo list the Anstey Road/Anstey Lane junctionÕs business as an advantage that would minimise additional noise, absolutely astounds me. This junction is only busy during peak periods, when people are going to and returning from work.
ÒThese are not, I would suggest, the times that the proposed skate park is likely to be used, and currently the noise of people playing tennis/netball and five-a-side can be heard in the properties opposite the proposed site on Anstey Road.
ÒIn addition, to encourage youths/children to congregate near what you are describing as a busy junction would surely require the addition of some form of pedestrian crossing.
ÒI am fully aware of how the town council protects the character of Alton with their involvement in the planning process. I am at a loss to see how you can justify the construction of a concrete skate park on the boundary of a conservation area and directly opposite listed properties on the main road into Alton from the A31. The positioning of the skatepark will be visible as visitors drive into the town, ruining their first impressions.Ó
Assistant town clerk Greg Burt said: ÒThe town council asked local people for their comments on the skate park and we are delighted that people have responded. That was the whole point of the consultation exercise.
ÒWe are a council that listens to its residents, and we are interested in what people who live in the vicinity of the area have to say.
ÒWe have had about half a dozen similar letters. It is hard to compare the levels of objection between the new site at the old site, as the old site was subject to a different consultation process, by means of a public exhibition.
ÒA different site brings with it a different set of issues, and these new issues will be considered by the committee.
ÒNow that we have peopleÕs comments on the proposals, these comments will be taken into account by councillors when the matter goes before the recreation committee on October 16.Ó