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Skatepark approved after family campaign

Debbie/family Matt, who is wearing a black puffer jacket and black jeans, is wearing glasses with his hand in his pocket, smiling into the camera with his hand on Charlie's shoulder. Charlie is wearing a helmet and camouflaged black and white coat and is on a scooter. There is an empty play area in the background with a few swings and a bench.Debbie/family
Matt, his son Charlie and wife Debbie came up with the idea to bring a skatepark to Skellingthorpe

A skatepark has been approved for a Lincolnshire village after a campaign by a mum, dad and son.

Approved by North Kesteven District Council (NKDC) on 28 November, the skate park will be located on Monson Playing Field in Skellingthorpe.

Debbie and Matt, who live locally with their 10-year-old son Charlie, were awarded £161,700 from the National Lottery Community Fund and £130,000 from Skellingthorpe Parish Council for the project.

Matt said they hoped to start building the skatepark in February so it can open by late spring.

Wheelscape Visual depiction of what the skatepark will look like. A long skating zone with ramps each side, a smaller one in the middle and another one in the top right corner. Tarmac is going around some of the park which is on grass and a few trees and a fence can be seen.Wheelscape
The skatepark will have zones which differ in difficulty and style

The skatepark will be built on the southern part of the playing field, with the existing play equipment moved to the northern part.

It will include zones of different difficulty and style.

Debbie and Matt first approached Skellingthorpe Parish Council in February 2023 with the idea.

"It's really exciting and it hasn't been easy. It's been hours of unpaid work," Debbie said.

Matt added: "It's a relief to see that it has got to this point.

"Through taking our son to a lot of different skateparks, we have seen a lot of people using them and felt the atmosphere is really supportive and friendly.

"The skatepark will be there for anyone that wants it."

Wheelscape Visual depiction of what the skatepark will look like. A close-up view of the path that is going around some of the park which is on grass and a few people, trees and a fence can be seen.Wheelscape
There will be a path around the skatepark so people can walk, scooter and cycle round it

Charlie said it was a "team effort" as all of his school friends signed a petition he had set up to "make the skatepark a reality".

"I think it'll be good for the village because it'll be a great place to hang out and it's an exhilarating sport.

"I hope it'll be used and enjoyed for years to come," he said.

Planning conditions before they can start building include sharing more information on drainage, ecological impacts, and the management and maintenance of the skatepark.

Charlie has expressed his gratitude to everyone who signed his petition and Debbie and Matt for the support given by Skellingthorpe Parish Council.

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