Council confirms skate ramps will be removed (From Bucks Free Press)

Chepping Wycombe Parish Council confirms skate ramps will be removed

11:20am Friday 13th July 2012 in News By Lawrence Dunhill

A PARISH council has confirmed that skateboard ramps will be removed from a park in Flackwell Heath – but stressed the move will not affect a children’s play area.

The plans for the Recreation Ground have caused a huge backlash from parents – with hundreds joining a Facebook campaign calling for the ramps to be saved (see related links).

Meanwhile, the village Residents’ Association, which raised £16,000 to help install the equipment, has called for a public consultation before the ramps are removed.

Following the outcry, Chepping Wycombe Parish Council this week said it hopes to install some temporary BMX ramps in the middle of The Rec before the current ones are removed.

It will then look to site a permanent facility at an unknown location in the parish.

The council said in a statement: "With reference to the youth facilities (skate park, youth shelter and kickwall) these will be removed, however, the parish council is hoping to install some temporary BMX facilities in the centre of the park prior to the youth facilities being removed."

"As the facilities will go in soon there will be limited scope for a full public consultation."

Earlier this year the council had been looking to expand the site, but the idea brought strong complaints from some residents and one neighbour called in Wycombe District Council to undertake a noise survey, which indicated this would be unacceptable.

Fearing the threat of legal action the small council dropped the plans, before deciding to remove the current ramps altogether.

Now villagers fear The Rec’s children’s playground equipment could also be under threat, but the council statement added: “The parish council would like to stress that the small children’s playground is not part of the discussions...”

The controversy threatened to boil over last week following reports of children being filmed and photographed at The Rec.

There were reportedly heated exchanges on Thursday evening and police were called just before 9pm.

But a police spokesman said: "No offences were disclosed and no photographs or film was taken of any children. The neighbourhood policing team is aware of the dispute and is working with partner agencies on the issue."