The Bexhill Skatepark Action Group are absolutely delighted with the news that Rother’s cabinet have agreed to increase the capital programme by £300K to meet the costs of creating a new skatepark, multi-use games area and upgraded BMX track on land at Sidley Recreation Ground in Bexhill. Rother cabinet members voted unanimously at the Cabinet meeting on Monday 4 December to support the officers recommendations to invest in new skatepark facilities.
The Action Group have been working with Rother District Council to ensure that the Town retains skatepark facilities for its young people when the current site in Down Road is redeveloped. The Town’s MP Huw Merriman who has publicly supported the campaign said "The news that Rother District Council's cabinet have recommended a £300,000 cash injection for a new skatepark and multi-use games area is a huge boost for the young, and young at heart, in the district. When I visited the existing site in the summer it was clear that investment was needed. I thank Rother's cabinet and hope their Councillors will approve. If so, congratulations to Christine Bayliss and the team from the Skatepark Action Group who I have worked alongside to press the case for a new park
Skatepark committee member Harry Harmer who was featured on the front cover of the Bexhill Observer a year ago (December 16 2016) to highlight the poor state of the existing skatepark said “This is awesome news. The existing facility on Downs Road really is at the end of its useful life - so its great the Council are supporting young people in this way”. Dan Highams, from the BMX community said “What we need to do now is make sure we can get the best deal and layout for the BMX and Skateboard community in Bexhill”.
The Skatepark Action Group will now focus their activities on supporting the Council to obtain planning permission for the new park and providing evidence to support bids for matched funding. Christine Bayliss who helps run the group said “Extreme sports are now part of the Olympics so a new park should qualify for grants from Sport England. We have recently completed a user and parent survey and there is tremendous support for this project in Bexhill. I’d just like to say well done to Rother for responding so positively”.
Bexhill Skatepark Action Group was set up in September 2017 and is supported by Bexhill Lions and Source Park Hastings.