A couple of people have asked me recently (and the council have received an FOI request) what is happening with the skatepark and why it has been closed for so long?

In December 2020 the Parish Council received notice using their powers under the Water Industry Act 1991 from Northumbrian Water that they needed to requisition the skatepark to use as a site compound whilst they upgraded the pumping station a few hundred yards to the west. We have still not got it back nearly four years later and the delays are because of a dispute between NWL and their contractor.

The latest update today is that they hope to re-commence the works in the New Year and be off site by August 2025.

In the meantime I have been in discussions with the Council’s sports development team, skating organisation Shred the North and Skateboard GB about how best to get it back up and running when we get the land back. NWL have indicated willingness to make some sort of contribution but we have missed out on some potential Section 106 developer funding because of the long delays.

If anybody would like to get involved in this process please get in touch – my skating days are long gone and if I’m honest, never really started – so I would welcome any expertise!