There will be a meeting on Monday the 22nd of June at 7 PM in the PACT centre.
Skating is not a crime. Its a way of life. This web site will hopefully explain what we want, why we want it and what you can do to help.
Or perhaps this survey rings a bell?
In June last year, PACT ran a public consultation exercise to find out the amount of demand for a skatepark. Although demand was high, the project didn't go any further.
So, where are we now?
Simple answer: without a skatepark. But the reasons behind it go slightly deeper than that. We’ve been asked to put the project on hold as all schools in Wiltshire are currently under review, including Pewsey Vale. As such their hands are tied on the matter, whether they wanted to lease the land or not. As it cannot be leased until the review is finished. With the pressure of this review going on around the premises, The Skatepark/Arts Project is the last thing they wish to concern themselves with. Even when the review is finished it’s not guaranteed we will have full co-operation for the lease of the land. But we will pick up where we left off regarding the skatepark plans.
In the meantime we’re planning a number of activities to keep the ‘youth’ occupied, such as:
- Creating a teen leisure space at the Shak, with a small multi use games area (MUGA), and a mini halfpipe. The Miniramp will be much like the halfpipe that was there until recently, except a bit smaller.
- Moving iPWZ up to the loft of the Shak. We feel this will be a more appropriate setting for iPWZ, as it will be more youth orientated and we can restart game nights and counter strike leagues.
- We’ve initiated a weekly Skateboard club up at the Primary school, as we’ve been informed of great demand for younger kids to be taught Skateboarding.
Sadly this delay in our plans means that much of the funding we were planning on using will have been given out to other projects by the time we will need it. As such, the skatepark will probably have to be built in segments, as we source the funding for each part.
So, there you go. At the moment PACT is busy setting up iPWZ
(which is now up and running, check it out)
and we'll soon be setting up a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) as well.
Sorry guys, but as it stands, the Skatepark Project is on hold. As much as PACT think a skatepark would be great, it's just not possible at the moment. You'll just have to get a bus-pass and skate Swindon or Salisbury. Salisbury Skatepark is being renovated, so I'd go there if I were you.
Skaters in Pewsey would like somewhere safe to skate.
We want a skate park that:
..attracts a wide range of skaters including families, new skaters and the older skaters..
..has all the best bits of the other skate parks we have seen..
..is open for long periods of time..
..blends the existing natural space to create a world class skate park..
..is supported by the community as a good resource for the village..
..allows new people to learn to skate..
..can be used for other purposes such as BMX or blading..
..is a source of pride for the local young people..
..can be used for out door activities such as bands or theatre..
..can be built quickly and cheaply..
..produces at least one professional skater and hopefully an Olympic entrant by 2012.
Why does Pewsey need a skate park?
Skateboarding in Pewsey is seen as ‘a problem’ by those not involved in it. The skateboarders are most visible in the Co-op car park and other car parks in the village and typically what residents see is:
• Noise
• Rubbish
• Damage to village
• Danger to pedestrians
• Threatening behaviour
The reality is that skateboarding promotes healthy activity amongst young people. It is a social sport that encourages a sense of community, teamwork and physical activity.
Where there are dedicated facilities it is very common to see whole families at the skate park with very young people through to middle aged men enjoying the sport. Most parents have bought their children either skates, a BMX bike or a skateboard at some point. Having a facility where they can use those is a natural extension of that thinking.
Skateboarding forms and integral part of the modern youth culture and is part of the fashion, music, internet landscape that young people from 6 to 25 live in.
Urban skate boarders (the form of the sport most common in Pewsey) want concrete, hand rails, curbs, steps and other obstacles to test themselves against. They want to a place where they can practice a particular skill over and over until they get it right. They want to be able to add some extra height to their starting position and do it again.
Skate boarders do not want an organised skate club which runs on fixed hours with limited obstacles. They want somewhere they can go at any time and practice with their friends.
Young people who skateboard should not be criminalised but given a safe place to pursue their sport.
The Benefits of Informal Wheeled Sports
Informal sports such as skateboarding bring a large range of benefits to those who take part and the wider community.
Benefits to those who take part:
Increased fitness, stamina, co-ordination and creative skills(an antidote for TV and computers!)
Opportunities for social interaction and to “hang out” together.
An opportunity to demonstrate their skills to a wider audience.
An informal setting for learning new skills from those with more experience.
A greater choice of physical activities, in addition to more formal sports.
Benefits to the local community:
Young people involved in positive activities, which may distract them from less desirable ones such as anti-social behaviour.
Young people having a say in what happens locally and making a positive contribution to their community.
Provision of an exciting ‘spectator sport’.