Penleigh Skate Park set for replacement

Plans to replace the ageing ramps at Penleigh Skate Park are being progressed after councillors agreed to explore options for a new facility.

The Management of Services Committee agreed that council officers should obtain designs, and quotations for replacing the existing ramps at the site in Penleigh Park.

A structural survey found the steel ramps had an estimated remaining service life of around five to 10 years, subject to ongoing maintenance and repairs.

In a report to the committee, officers said, “Given the ongoing maintenance requirements, increasing likelihood of component failures and the limited remaining service life of the existing ramps, prioritising their replacement is considered the most appropriate long-term approach.”

Sections of the ramps are already showing signs of corrosion, with individual components requiring regular replacement. Current repair costs are estimated at between £500 and £1,500 a year and are expected to increase as the ramps continue to deteriorate.

The proposed replacement is estimated to cost between £200,000 and £300,000. Officers will also explore external grant funding opportunities to help meet the cost.

The designs, quotations and tender options will be brought back to the Management of Services Committee for consideration and approval.