A POWYS county councillor has called on the local authority to expedite the planning process for a state-of-the-art skatepark after plans were finally submitted this month.
The Llandrindod Wells Skatepark Project took a step closer to becoming a reality in early June when it was revealed that plans had been submitted to Powys County Council (PCC).
Llandrindod Wells Town Council submitted the application for the long-heralded Princes Avenue project on May 20.
Llandrindod county councillor Pete Roberts revealed this week that as a local representative he had been invited to ‘call in’ the application. He instead took to Facebook to reveal he has urged planners to speed up the process.
“The planning notification for this amazing project that I have been supporting for the past three years came across my email last week asking me if I wanted to call it in,” Councillor Roberts posted on his Facebook page on Wednesday.
READ MORE: Llandrindod skatepark dream a step closer to reality
He went on to post his formal response via email, in which he said: “This marks a significant milestone for a project that I have worked on with the town council over the past three years.
“(It) will provide a much-needed leisure opportunity for young people in the town and secure the reputation of the lake area as a visitor attraction for all ages and improve the linkage from the lake itself into town.
“It will also enhance the reputation of the town and make it more attractive when attempting to secure new employers to the area.
“As such I have no wish to call the application in and would encourage you to expedite the planning process as much as possible to enable the community to move forward with seeking funding as a project with approved planning permission.”
The new skatepark facility will replace the existing sole metal-framed timber surface skate ramp that was built in the early 2000s, which is nearing the end of its life span.
The brand-new skate and bike park will be built on the site of the current halfpipe and become a more expansive facility, built as a ‘flow style’ park.
The proposed new facility would include an array of skatepark favourites, from a bowl, dish, ledges and banks, to a bowled corner, gap manual pad, hubba and handrail, as well as a street area.
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It will provide a safe environment for skateboards, BMX, wheelchairs, scooters, roller bladers/skaters and other wheeled sports users.
Led by the town council steering group, the project is made up of several local groups and stakeholders, including Dod Town Xtreme, Llandrindod’s Ready to Roll and Powys County Council, with the Heart of Wales Skateboarders inspiring the original idea.
The new project really started taking shape in August 2021, with the town council revealing land had been acquired from the local authority.
Town councillors Steve Deeks-D’Silva, Kim Nicholls and town clerk Jane Johnston have spearheaded the project, which may have been green-lighted earlier, but for the Covid-19 pandemic.
A new outdoor skate and bike park was high on the list of priorities for potential developments from a 2021 community consultation on local sport provision in Llandrindod, with current facilities deemed poor and unsafe.
For further information on the application, visit t.ly/dBL7u.
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