Skatepark scheme needs volunteers

It had been hoped to have the skatepark operational by last August's school Summer holidays.

But despite a site between the Down Drill Halls and the High School being found and planning permission obtained, the much-needed skatepark has not materialised.

Police sector commander Inspector Max Mosley paid tribute at last Thursday's meeting of Bexhill Police Community Consultative Group to the work of John Izzard and Charles Nicholson of Bexhill Community Partnership.

Speaking as a director of the partnership, he said more people of their calibre were needed to champion community causes.

"When I was first appointed we recognised the need. There is a very important need to provide facilities for young people in Bexhill.

"In this town there are 5,000 kids between 12 and 17.

"We actually don't have that many facilities at all for them.

"We did get the group set up for the skatepark. We did get the location and the planning permission.

"But this scheme has reached a bit of a hiaitus at the moment and part of the problem is that it needs a strong management committee to drive it ahead.

"We need the input of the community to go forward. We need people with a little bit of gumption, people to deal with this quite complicated bureaucracy."

In his written report to the officially-constituted consultative group, Inspector Mosley said: "The current situation is that a funding application has been made to BIFFA under the Land Fill Tax Credit Scheme.

"The funding arrangements mean that there has to be stringent supervision by a management committee, properly formed with a detailed articles of association.

"It seems that the lack of wider community support for membership of this supervisory body is the stumbling block.

"I understand that this matter could be progressed more rapidly if a few more members of the community, with suitable experience of management committees would come forward.

"If anyone does know of any suitable volunteers I would be happy to pass their details to the Skate Park Steering Group."

But Bexhill Town Forum chairman and Skate Park Steering Group member Margaret Jones said: "I have a totally different perspective. The problem as I understand it is getting the funding. Until you have the funding you don't have anything to manage.

"Bexhill Young People's Service, which I represent and John Izzard represents, is now in the process of doing that."

A parents' group was formed over a year ago but there was nothing for them to manage and they were on stand-by, she said.

Inspector Mosley said: "We need the capacity of the community to drive this forward."