Skip navigation

Gloucestershire Business News

BOARD SKATEOVER: plan for Forest sports facility shapes up

Fourteen years on from the original idea, campaigners in Newent are seeing their vision for a £100,000 skate park in the Forest of Dean town edge closer, with documents now submitted to ensure the reality is viable under existing regulations.

Newent Initiative Trust, an independent not-for-profit organisation working for the town's benefit, has laid out its plans for Forest of Dean District Council on the 186sqm project which is earmarked for a parcel of land at the Meek Road Recreation Facility, just south west of the town's tennis court.

If the work is cleared, this will be the eighth project in Gloucestershire to be undertaken by Poole-based Maverick Skate Parks, who describe themselves as a "skater-run business specialising in the design and installation of spray concrete skateparks".

Recent completions showcased by the specialists, whose work includes handholding for local campaigns to garner support, include sites at Bishop's Cleeve and Churchdown. The website states: "We have installed some of the best Skateparks across the UK and we intend to continue pushing the boundaries to improve the design and quality of UK Skateparks."

In an update to supporters, a spokesperson for the Newent Multi-wheeled Skatepark Initiative said: "We are still hard at work behind the scenes. Plans have been firmed up but still more fundraising needed."

The new concrete facility will featue soft landscaping, spectator seating area and a link path.

Keith Urch, of Newent Initiative Trust, told planners: "The proposal is for a new, free to use, wheeled sports recreation facility, set within an area of open recreational space, serving the local community. The proposed facility, being sited adjacent to other sporting/play facilities, is commensurate with the nature of the recreation space and will be a valuable and well used community asset, especially to the younger generations."

By not exceeding four metres in height or 200 sqm in capacity, the project complies with Part 12 Class A of 2015's Town and Country Planning regulations for general permitted development, the applicants say.

There are currently 27 skateparks within the county, and the sport has seen a surge since the Pandemic. According to SkateboardGB, the spike in interest marks the biggest increase since the Tony Hawk Pro Skater game, on Playstation and Nintendo, triggered the last boom in 2000.

A spokesperson said: "It's not your typical stereotype young-male skateboarder which is causing the spike. The big increases have been in females taking up the sport, couples skateboarding as an activity they can do together and older generations who used to skate in their youth and are now re-engaging with skateboarding, either alone or with their children."

The average base cost of building a skatepark is between £250 to £400 sqm. That calculation indicates that the Newent project will cost between £46,500 and £74,000, but the entire scheme was costed at £100,000 in 2021. Since then, the Trust has worked to engage volunteers in a broad range of fundraising initiatives. It has also factored in Section 106 funding from local housing developments.

In a concept outline for the project, Maverick stated: "The exciting facility comprises two main areas; The Tiered Street Area and Mini Flowbowl. All routes around the skatepark are designed to link up when the facility is quiet, conversely, they can be used as separate, independent areas when the park is busy. Subtly segregating the space into different zones will enable larger numbers of people to use the facility at the same time, safely."

The company added: "Both areas will provide challenges for riders who are keen to attempt more technically difficult tricks on the elements within the design. In our experience, local riders will quickly progress to a level where they can enjoy the whole space. We would not recommend designing a facility that runs the risk of becoming dull or unchallenging over time."

Related Articles

Fashion retailer to close at Quays Image

Fashion retailer to close at Quays

A fashion retailer is to close its Gloucester Quays store for a second time.

DECISION MADE: Loophole in law puts pressure on Eroticats licensing  Image

DECISION MADE: Loophole in law puts pressure on Eroticats licensing

Cheltenham politician said they have done "all they can" to close it.

D-day for No. 131 Image

D-day for No. 131

Plans for new structures outside No.131 Promenade will be discussed this week (February 13).

FOOD FIGHT: Ecotricity in spat over homeless project Image

FOOD FIGHT: Ecotricity in spat over homeless project

Friction follows Eco Parc appeal victory against planners.

Copyright 2025 Moose Partnership Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any content is strictly forbidden without prior permission.