A MUCH-anticipated facility for youngsters in Bordon has hit a major funding hurdle this week.
The townÕs skatepark, which has been on the cards for more than two years, will now cost up to £5,000 more than previously thought because of safety requirements
The project took a step forward in July when a design was finally agreed by both town councillors, skateboarders and BMX users.
Agreement came after a proposed design was deemed unsuitable by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) due to a number of safety concerns relating to the height of a surrounding fence and the width of equipment.
But another design was put forward by the Skatepark UsersÕ Group which addressed RoSPAÕs safety concerns, and this plan was therefore agreed by all three parties.
The proposal was then put out to tender and a quotation for the project has now been agreed by the town council, subject to a number of conditions.
Meanwhile, a lease to use an MoD site in Budds Lane for the facility is still to be rubber stamped by the council.
However, at MondayÕs meeting of Whitehill Town CouncilÕs finance and policy committee, members were told that due to the safety improvements that were required by RoSPA the project was set to cost up to an extra £5,000.
The amendments to the design included a higher fence measuring 1.5 m, instead of 1.2 m, between the skateboarding area and the basketball area to prevent stray balls going onto the skateboard area, and the decks being extended from 1.2 m to 1.5 m wide to accommodate both BMX users and skateboarders.
The news that additional cash was needed for the skatepark came as a blow to town councillors who believed that they had secured enough cash for the scheme a year ago.
As reported by The Herald last September, East Hampshire District Council agreed to hand over £5,750 from its community initiatives fund and release £11,500 from the town councilÕs developers contributions for the project, while the town council used £5,750 of its own cash.
But the council has now been left with finding the additional cash to ensure that the townÕs dream of a skatepark becomes a reality.
On Monday chairman Don Mayes reminded councillors of the reason for the price hike.
ÒI think members were aware that due to the safety precautions that we had to take regarding the skateboard park, the cost has gone up,Ó he said.
ÒIt looks as though it will be between £3,000 and £4,000 more, but it could be up to £5,000.Ó
Mr Mayes suggested that the council contact the Youth Umbrella Group and ask them to apply to the National LotteryÕs Awards for All scheme for the remaining cash.
Mr Mayes added: ÒI think first we could ask the Youth Umbrella Group to make an application to the National Lottery. Either that or we would have to find it from our contingency fund that we have available.Ó
Deputy mayor Faith Thomas asked if there were any other groups or organisations to which the council could apply to for funds.
Mr Mayes added: ÒThere may be a national association of skateboarding to which we could apply.Ó
Andrea Moxon proposed that the town council first approach the Youth Umbrella Group and suggest that they apply to the National LotteryÕs Awards for All scheme.
Members agreed with her proposal.
A date has not yet been set for work to start on the erection of the skatepark, but it is not believed that having to find extra funding for the project will delay work starting on the site.