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Skateboarders celebrate wheely good decision

20/ 8/2008

SKATEBOARDERS will be celebrating after councillors gave the green light to a new facility.

A skateboard park is to be built within recreation land at Newshaw Lane in Hadfield, with equipment transferred from a similar facility in Glossop’s Manor Park.

In accordance with National Playing Fields Association’s guidance, there will be a 30metre buffer zone between the park and nearby houses.

High Peak Council’s head of planning Adrian Fisher said space between the park and the nearest dwellings was already at 55 metres.

Hadfield South councillor Bob Mckeown — in whose ward the park will be — welcomed the application.

He said: "When we get the multi-use games area up and running I will ask highways about some sort of crossing or traffic calming in the area.

"I’m sure it (the skatepark) will be quite well-used and successful, but it needs some sort of traffic calming or crossing."

Howard Town councillor Roger Wilkinson said: "When the equipment was in Manor Park there were no adverse comments from residents."

The skatepark will be enclosed by a one-metre high galvanised fence and sited near existing play equipment, so as to minimise its appearance within the setting of the playing fields.

A footpath will be also be laid between the skatepark and Newshaw Lane, with shrubs providing screening for residents on Shawfield Road and Lower Bank Close.

Members of the development control committee accepted the recommendations of an officer’s report and approved the application by eight votes with one abstention — Councillor Chris Pearson was concerned about increased anti-social behaviour in the vicinity of the skatepark.