Young people call for skate park to be built

Students from Steyning Grammar School handed over a petition to Steyning Parish Council last Monday, calling for a skate park to be built at Memorial Playing Field.

The petition, which had more than 100 signatures, stated: “Dear Steyning Parish Council, could we please have a skate park in the Memorial Playing Field.

“The young people of Steyning have been asking for over 20 years. Still we do not have one but could you please take the undersigned people into consideration when you make your decision.”

Harriet Rose, 14, said it was not just for Steyning, but for the young people from Upper Beeding and surrounding parishes.

Oliver Cox, 12, added: “I really think Steyning needs a skate park because it is the main place for children to come to school from Partridge Green, Upper Beeding and Small Dole and it would be so nice for them to go to one place after school where it is safe.

“Small Dole and Partridge Green have got their own skate parks and they never have any problems there.

“I know so many of the skateboarders that go to the other skate park, they are not the type of people to do the things that happen in Brighton. The community is a lot more solid in Steyning.”

His mum, Kate Cox, explained the idea of the petition was to give the young people the chance to make their voices known.

Lauren Cox, 12, handed the petition to Steyning Parish Council chairman Phil Bowell outside the Steyning Centre on Monday afternoon.

Tamar Rose, mum of skate park supporters Harriet and Amelia, said: “For me, it is about more than skate parks because I want my children to feel that they have a vested interest in democracy.

“If they see democracy doesn’t work, then they are less likley to vote in future. They need to feel empowered about their interests in the world and their part in it.”

The petition followed the Steyning parish poll result last Wednesday, which saw the majority support a skate park on the Memorial Playing Field.

But the Friends of the Memorial Playing Field say the result, which saw 816 (53.7 per cent) vote yes and 703 (46.4 per cent) vote no, shows an ‘almost equal division of votes’.

Paul Campbell, vice-chairman, said: “The poll result illuminates starkly the deep split in our community which the skate park proposals are causing.

“We are now expecting the parish council to address the concerns which until now have been dismissed as carping from a ‘tiny minority’.”

Concerns included the appearance of the skate park and car park, the noise nuisance and the management plan.

Steyning Parish Council chairman Phil Bowell said there had been an ‘amazing turnout’ for the poll.

“We even had friends from Bramber and Upper Beeding who wanted to vote but did not realise they could not,” he added.

The poll was open to adults living in Steyning and a total of 1,520 people voted (32.08 per cent).

Mr Bowell said: “We have a great group of youngsters in Steyning and they deserve the best we can give them.”

He criticised poll flyers delivered by the Friends, which he said were misleading and had appalled the council.

“We have now had a democratic vote on the subject and I sincerely hope that everyone will get behind the plan and support the Steyning Parish Council,” he added.

“We still have a lot of work to do, the first of which is to get planning permission. If other issues arise will we will deal with them on an ongoing basis

“The council have acted responsibly throughout this process and we will continue to consult with the town, as we agreed to do, to achieve a facility that the town will be proud of.”