Cromer loses wheeled park opportunity

Cromer loses skate park opportunity

Cromer has lost £50,000 funding promised for a new wheeled park, which would have provided dedicated facilities for activities such as skateboarding and BMX bikes, because of local opposition to the scheme.

North Norfolk District Council had proposed a site for the park in Happy Valley, Cromer, and had obtained both support and £50,000 funding from Norfolk Playbuilder for the new facility. However, despite general statements of welcome for such a facility in the Cromer area, the weight of opposition expressed by local people and owners at the King’s Chalet Park to the proposed site has led Playbuilder to withdraw the funding.

“We are really disappointed that people have opposed the scheme in Cromer,” said Sonia Shuter, Health Improvement Officer for the District Council. “We had such a lot of support from local young people, who have wanted this for years and they will feel really let down. We looked at a number of possible sites, but this was the only one that satisfied the funding criteria. It’s a great shame that it won’t now happen. Concerns have also been expressed that a wheeled park, wherever it was located, would increase vandalism and anti-social behaviour; some people seem to assume that all young people misbehave, which is nonsense.”

Jon Robinson, for Norfolk Playbuilder, added, “We are very disappointed that the clearly-expressed needs of local children have been opposed so fiercely by some local stakeholders, and we have taken this decision with great regret.”

North Norfolk District Council is now discussing with Norfolk Playbuilder whether the funding could be reallocated to a scheme in North Walsham.