Update on Funding Bid for Southsea Skatepark

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Southsea Skatepark Company and Portsmouth City Council (more about the company below) have recently made a joint application to the myplace fund for £2.5 million to completely refurbish the skatepark.

The draft design is overleaf and includes:

·        Renewal of all ramps

·        Resurfacing the bowls

·        Resurfacing the rink

·        Roofing over the rink

·        Demolition of both existing buildings and construction of a single new building to provide:

·        New entrance and foyer, facing Avenue de Caen

·        Cafeteria and viewing gallery

·        Meeting / activity rooms

·        Larger shop

·        New office and improved storage

·        Improved surfaces and access throughout

We will hear whether we have been awarded an in-principle grant in February 2009. We will then have 6 - 8 months to produce final plans and specifications, in consultation with existing and potential users. We will also have to produce a business plan which shows that the skatepark can be financially viable.

If we are successful, work is unlikely to begin on site until February 2010 and will take approximately one year to complete. The intention is to carry out the works in stages so that the skatepark can remain open throughout the work.

If the bid is not successful we still hope to carry out a staged refurbishment, the first stage being to build a cafeteria and meeting room to improve the service and to generate income to sustain the park. We will be pressing ahead with small improvements in the meantime - funds are being raised for a beginners mini-ramp and we plan to freshen up all round with a coat of paint.

We will keep you up to date on progress of the bid through leaflets and the web sites. In the meantime, please feed any comments, queries or offers of help to Chris Richards at chris.richards@portsmouthcc.gov.uk. (023) 9283 4810

Southsea Skatepark Company is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee set up as a partnership between Portsmouth City Council and skatepark users. Traction Kites UK, Southsea Roller Hockey Club, the Skatepark Users Group and PCC provide the 8 company directors. The hope is that the Council will be able to pass the management of the park to the company, provided we can show we will be able to run the facility, improve the park and achieve financial viability.