£100,000 skate park planned for Donnington

Thursday 20th October 2011, 2:26PM BST.

£100,000 skate park planned for Donnington

A £100,000 skate park looks set to be built in Donnington, Telford, making it the first of its kind in the county.

The ‘free flow’ facility will created at Donnington Recreation Ground on School Road and will include multiple sunken bowls, grinding rails, and ramps for skateboarders and BMX riders.

Free-flow skate parks provide a flowing skate surface, not just up and down wooden ramps.

The proposals are due to go before a meeting of Telford & Wrekin plans board on Wednesday.

Planning officers have recommended the proposals are approved.


  1. 1
    adetheshades

    What a waste of money surely this could be put to a far better use.

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  2. 2
    A

    So the plans for a new health centre on this site have been shelved then?

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  3. 3
    Paul Fryer

    It’s a good job the Ambulance Station is just around the corner! (poor crews are busy enough)

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  4. 4
    Brian McInnes

    Great idea in theory but in practice it will become a hangout for the local dossers and drug dealers.
    A waste of money

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  5. 5
    deco t&w street skaters

    if this stops the skateboarders from using the courts, i’m all for it, BUT, would be best built at the town park, central to telford for other boarders from other parts of the midlands easy access via bus, train etc t&w rethink skate park position

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  6. 6
    paul

    what about telfords roads ??? there a joke, theres more holes than road.
    more money to be wasted!!!! (CRAZY)

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    • Joanne

      Paul, I believe with my own eyes that the current administration have been carrying out major repairs on the worst roads in Telford. Actual resurfacing, not just the bodge-job pothole busters that the last administration got to do the job!

      On the other side, why can’t we give the borough’s kids something to do?! Better to invest in factilities than have the kids creating havoc elsewhere!

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  7. 7
    natasha sutherland

    its about time they did something for the kids around here!

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    • 20Legend

      Totaly agre…. For all those that slate this idea you should take some time out to visit one of the three current Bmx tracks (Leegomery/Malinslee). I live in StGeorges and took my two boys to both and we were met by children of a variety of ages who all got on very well and conversation flowed……to be honest i never expected this and it was good to see the kids mixing, discussing what schools they go to, what bike they have etc….. If one of the kids come of thier back they all rush to the aid of their fellow bmx-er to see if thier ok…… excellent for the kids and we go every weekend with out fail……(newport sk8 park is a bit clicky and doesnt have the same buzz about it)

      thank you TWDC and all you people who think this is a waste of money you are so wrong, it will have a return on investment and give the kids something to do and not feel that society is against them and sterio type them………

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  8. 8
    deb shephard

    Where do you suggest?
    Somebody will always not agree whichever area of the community the money is spent on—but consider this— society today is very hard on our youngsters who a lot of the time have too much time on their hands with little to occupy and inspire them. Life is very demanding on a parents time and unfortunately family time together is fast disappearing. A young person who can nurture a love of a sport, find Passion for it and be encouraged by local groups and clubs is far more likely to carry those feelings/skills forward and be a more happy successful adult with goals and drive.
    It may seem a waste of money on the surface, but think about it—-todays youngsters are the ones that will be looking after us in future—and I would rather find any way to pull them together, to gel as a group and pass on to each other skills learnt or successes gained.
    Myself and my children belong to the local Wrekin riders bmx club, and I have to say its very pleasurable to watch the older ones help and inspire the younger ones. Everbody gains—
    Idle youngsters—–troublsome youths .
    spend the money and make a difference.

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  9. 9
    frankel

    I never see any reports of any money being spent in brookside.

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  10. 10
    h

    cos theres loads of money now isnt there?

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  11. 11
    Pauline

    I went to the consultancy meeting in Donnington of this skate park when they wanted to ask the public opinion and the kids what they would like there. There wasn’t anybody there saying no to this skate park!! When we asked if any more of these parks would be built they said it was difficult to get funding as a lot of their budget has been slashed. Many of you are complaining about the roads but this comes from different budgets which are all being slashed. My son goes skateboarding and he goes to the courts because there isn’t many skateboard parks in Telford. I have travelled to Newport and Stoke and Trent for his to skateboard. So why can’t the kids of Telford have a decent skateboard park themselves and then this will stop people from moaning when they are skating in local centres and outside their houses. I think there should be more facilities like this for our children.

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  12. 12
    Rich

    Great, exactly what Telford needs. More free activities for young people. I’ll be honest, those who think that this is a waste of money are the type of people who pigeon hole teenagers and cause more problems.

    I was on the receiving end of this as a “skater thug” when I was a teen, and had the police called on us numerous times because we were “hanging around”. With very few places to go and partake in this hobby, it is to be expected. I bet if this was a football field, something non-threatening, the tone of some people on here would be different.

    What do you people want? Teenagers to just disappear?

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  13. 13
    Evan Grossburger

    check out the newport skate park and what its done for everyone living with it

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  14. 14
    Y Mab Darogan

    Before a skate park is built, the parks for young children around Donnington seriously need looking at.

    These parks are out of date, some are dangerous and not very nice places to take young children with leftovers from the older teenagers left on these sites.

    Instead of appeasing teenagers they should be encouraged to go out and carry out voluntary work or charity work.

    For those teenagers who claim they have no activities to occupy themselves in Telford that is very wrong.

    Telford is full of activities for teenagers ie The bowling alley, Ice rink, cinema,s (soon to be 2), Local army groups, RAF groups, brownies, cubs, guides etc.

    Telford is home to some of the most interesting places to walk as well, The Wrekin, Granville Park nature reserves etc.

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    • Yunie

      Seriously?! You advise people to use the bowling alley, ice rink, clubs and groups… this all requires money which many young people or their families don’t have spare. Surely offering free opportunities is a positive way to allow people regardless of how much money they have to mix and participate in a positive manner rather than left stuck indoors or ‘hanging about’?!

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  15. 15
    Y Mab Darogan

    Yunie – The last time I checked, voluntary, charity work was free, was are many groups in Telford, acting, drama, dance groups etc.

    Swimming and leisure activities in T & W are also free for families of the less well off.

    Walking and hiking is free as well.

    No excuses can be given for groups of teenagers hanging around claiming they have nothing to do.

    Will a skateboard park feel such a huge so called void in there lives? I very much doubt it.

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  16. 16
    Y Mab Darogan

    Half term activities for a pound in T&W Yunie

    http://www.telford.gov.uk/downloads/file/3111/summer_holiday_activities_brochure

    Your argument is now invalid

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  17. 17
    Lewis

    Hey, stop slating the kids, you dont like the gangs you see on every street corner? give us somewhere nice to go and stop complaining. Just cus all you had when you were kids was a dictaphone and the sounds of horses.

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  18. 18
    Sascha

    everyone commenting saying this is a bad idea is obviously older than our generation (bare in mind i’m 16)…
    i don’t skate, but this park would encourage me to skate. we don’t have any decent skateparks other than one in stirchley, and one ramp in leeomery, but i think that’s about it.
    town centre would be a better place to build this but i’m not gonna complain! i think it’s a great idea and something a lot of people have wanted to happen.
    and to those suggesting volunteer work, and bowling or whatever. no one wants to spend their time volunteering when they could be out with their friends and the second point costs money that most of us don’t have to spend. face the facts and stop speaking out of stereotypes. we ain’t all antisocial druggies either tyvm.

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  19. 19
    Sascha

    you’re all idiots.
    no teenager wants to do volunteer/charity work when they could be socialising.
    we don’t all have money to spend on skating, cinema and bowling, plus it gets boring when you’ve been like 10 times and prices keep going up.
    a skate park is what we need. i’d be more encouraged to skate! only ones we have are up stirchley and 1 ramp in leegomary…. well pointless.
    face the facts and stop bein stereotypical.
    oh and we’re not all anti social dossing druggy thugs. i’m in full time education at college… and i’d love it.

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  20. 20
    Shelley

    for people who don’t like or can’t afford other things (skating, bowling etc.) it is a great idea. everything is over priced and boring after a while. people need to be encouraged to learn new things and skatboarding would be a good idea. everyone comenting is obviously old and stereotypical. not all teenagers are druggys but hardly any want to do charity work. and it would be a good place for teenagers to go that keeps them from skating of the streets. Adults complain about teenagers skating around telford town center and public places. ADULTS NEED TO STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT EVERYTHING.:-)

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  21. 21
    Richard Grange

    i think this would be really good espeicially to get the youth involved with sports and of street corners… also i would be very interested in holding competitions and training days with the local council.

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  22. 22
    nicky

    i agree what a waste of money once again being overly spent , on something that is not realy needed.

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