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Croxley Green Skate Park receives ã30,000 boost for tarmac resufacing
SKATEBOARD enthusiasts can look forward to performing grinds, flips and spins with ease after a skate park received a ã30,000 cash boost for a resurfacing programme.
Croxley Green Skate Park, in Baldwins Lane, will be resurfaced with tarmac next year, after young people voiced their concerns about the park's current conditions.
Since the existing tarmac surface was laid about 10 years ago, when the park was originally built, it has become embedded with stones which have caused damage to in-line skate and skateboard wheels.
A recent independent health and safety inspection requested by Three Rivers District Council (TRDC) - which is allocating the funds from its 2010/11 capital refurbishment budget - found in some cases, wheels are 'damaged beyond repair after only two weeks of normal usage at the park'.
Managing director of the Play Inspection Company, Keith Dalton, said: "A number of loose stone chips can cause problems for riders if they become caught under the wheels, creating a loss of balance and/ or an unexpected change of direction.
"Because of the stones (possibly granite chips) embedded in the surface, it is very abrasive and whereas a normal fall would result in some fairly minor abrasions, this surface is causing quite serious abrasions.
"We understand a significant number of users have stopped going to the park because of the surface problems."
About ã2,000 was been spent on emergency repairs between last November and August this year, but a new surface was recommended for health and safety reasons.
During a consultation with skate park users, Jenna Selby said: "When the park was first built, the tarmac was pretty smooth but over the years, small stones have made their way to the top which makes it pretty rough to ride on.
"There is a fair bit of wear and tear and cracking between where the ramps join the floor, and a lot of skaters are back to riding smaller wheels, which will catch."
Jonnie Folmer added: "The floor is absolutely awful, we have to buy so many wheels as they get shredded up, because the floor is too rough."
Feedback from park users also showed they were in favour of concrete resurfacing, which would require about ã100,000 investment but last for 50 to 60 years, as opposed to tarmac, which is cheaper but has a shorter life span of five to 10 years.
But at a meeting of TRDC's executive committee in Rickmansworth on November 1, members decided to proceed with the cheaper option of tarmac.
Leader of TRDC, Councillor Ann Shaw, said: "After considering the various options we will proceed with the resurfacing of tarmac due to the significant cost saving to the capital budget of the council.
"The resurfacing of the Skate Park will provide Croxley Green with a safe environment for the users of the park that will last for a number of years."
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ã30.000 over ten years equates to ã8 per day, good return at the price when you consider the parish council spend 35k on a 15 min fireworks display which equates to ã340 per minute.
hi
it so good