Campaign to raise £60k for youth skate ramp

Aldermaston is hoping to raise £60k to build a new skate ramp.

Parishoners are campaigning for the new facility to accommodate its expanding youth population.

A public consultation – held at the village hall on Friday from 3.30pm to 6pm – received a positive response from more than 30 residents, says Betongpark, the London-based company selected to oversee the works.

At a meeting in July last year, Aldermaston Parish Council voted to condemn the old skate ramp, built in 2007, considering any repairs or replacements inadequate and too costly. The ramp was removed after falling into a bad state of repair.

But now a planned redevelopment is set to proceed costing up to £59,500, according to landscape architect for Betongpark, Dominic Alden – a steep rise from previous figures of £25,000 quoted last year.

Aldermaston businessman, Adam Reed, 40, has lived in the village for eight years and is a vocal advocate for the campaign, pledging up to £1,000 out of his own pocket.

He hopes the village will raise £2,000 through sponsored community events over the coming year, with Greenham Trust match funding up to £3,000.

Mr Reed has now reached out to local businesses for their support, including Rosebourne farm shop, AWE Aldermaston and Veolia waste management in Padworth.

Mr Reed, who has two young children himself, explained to the Newbury Weekly News the strong public demand for new infrastructure to accommodate skaters of all ages and abilities, and hopes the redevelopment will generate interest further afield as well.

Aldermaston Parish Council chairwoman, Sophie Crawford, said: "The event was reasonably well attended by local families, especially earlier in the session following school pick ups, and parents and children engaged with the Betong representatives on various design ideas.

"We are now waiting for Betong to provide the final designs that will form the basis of both our planning application to be submitted to West Berkshire Council and also our fundraising campaign."

The proposed new ramp is smaller than those at Thatcham, Newbury and the proposed major redevelopment at Tadley, keeping in line with the village's aesthetic and to avoid drawing too many crowds.

The designs will be confirmed within the next 10-15 days, and will then be submitted to West Berkshire Council for approval.

Betongpark is an industry leading skatepark designer founded in Oslo, Norway. The company ensure their ramps have a longer lifespan by using a more durable concrete in their constructions which can withstand the adverse Nordic weather conditions, one of the main reasons they were chosen to design and build Aldermaston's new ramp, said Mr Reed.