April 1 - The skateboard park extension is expected to start in May after the improvements to the playground have been made.
What is being proposed is an extension of 2 metres – so it would be 2 metres wider.
As shown here:
Two new Radius Curb jumps would then be installed. One of these is curved on one side and simulates the edge of a curbstone. The other is rectangular. They are 3 metres in length and 30cm wide. These jumps have already been bought by PARC (Play Area in Rottingdean Committee, a charity registered in 1995 to “provide recreational facilities for children and young people in Rottingdean (West) Saltdean and Ovingdean”).
Here is what the curved one looks like. Sorry about the sideways image but hopefully you get the idea.
The cost of the extension is estimated at around £25,000. This is because laying the reinforced concrete and then polishing it is pretty expensive.
Brighton and Hove City Council will use interest from the Ocean Hotel Section 106 money*, and Saltdean Residents Association has offered to contribute £3,000 towards the cost of the extension.
(The company which turned the Ocean hotel on Longridge Avenue into flats was required to contribute £340,000 into a pool of money to be used for community projects).
What do you think of these plans? If you would like us to email them to you in pdf format then please email saltdeanra@gmail.com
Also if any boarders/bikers would like to fundraise and contribute towards the extenstion then that would be fabulous.
How long will it be before the new equipment is covered in grafitti too? £3,000 of the Resident Associations money seems like a lot that will only benefit a very small minority and could be better spent.
Would you rather it be on the walls of your street?
No, Ollie, I would rather people refrained from vandalising full stop. I’m sure you already know it is against the law.
Hello Steve – Bridget here, I’m on the committee of the SRA. Personally I don’t think there is that much grafitti on the existing skateboard park but I guess it’s subjective. What kind of projects do you think the SRA should be spending its money on? We’d absolutely welcome your opinion. Either on this website or to saltdeanra@googlemail.com cheers
bridget
I believe the expression of youth to be quite important and see no harm in a bit of graffiti in the right place, surely a scate park is just that?? Better there than in our streets.
Are the plans to extend this on hold now or totally scrapped?
i believe that the skateboard park extension is a great idea, it keeps the youth out of trouble and gives them something to do. although younger children should not be aloud in the skateboard park on scooters because they are too immature and irresponsible also they get in the way a lot, personally i skate, but even if i didn’t i think it would still a good idea. graffiti in the skate park, isn’t too bad and im sure if you gave the youth a bigger and better skate park they would respect the park properly.
You’re asking for a bigger and better skate park whilst at the same time saying that younger children shouldn’t be allowed to use it. It’s a community attraction available to anyone who wishes to use it
Yes because they are too immature to use the park sensibly and appropriately
if you think about it 3,000 pounds is alot of money, but the positive affect that children and some adults will get out of its all worth it, also it is quite a big attraction in saltdean and on a hot day there can get up too 20-30 kids in the tiny little skatepark and on a cold day there can be about 10 or so kids in there, its disgusting, needs to be extended soon.
It’s hardly ‘disgusting’ gazza123.
I am intitled to my own opinion
Just a quick update – plans to expand the skateboard park are progressing. Cathy from PARC is leading the project and talking to the council about the tender.
what i would like to know is when this is going to happen and if it is going to happen for real!
Speaking as an old git, I don’t personally have a problem with graffiti in the skate park – skate parks are supposed to look like that, it livens the concrete up a bit and I quite like the stencilled faces! And I’ve only recently begun to let my 7-year-old in there as when he was younger he would just have got in the way of the older kids who take their skating more seriously — seems to me the resource is for them and they have precious little else around here, while smaller kids have a perfectly good play park just next door. I’m all for the expansion and hope it happens soon.
When is the skateboard park extension going to happen and when will it be finished?
I will still be skating your wall!!!!
im 25 lived in saltdean my whole life was one of the first skaters around (rollerblades) ive skated at a high level and it amazes me how you would waste the money on building something that wont be skated!!!!! i could build you something that would be skated more for £150 the current park is and was a waste of time and money!!! what happens when you let people who have never skated at a high level design thing!!!!!! we tried to get a park built back in the day and couldnt get the money and it is amazing how willing people are to throw their money at skating thinking it will keep kids happy. well if you wanted to hear my 2 pence my email here! i could save you money and build something that people will like.
Hello William – if you could explain what is wrong with the plan for the extension and new jumps that would be very helpful. If something better can be provided for £150 then of course we’d love to hear all about it.
Thanks in advance!
The main issue i have with them is, they are too low and too short and all square edge. it hard for me to look at theses from anything other than a rollerbladers view, but that what i am….. Also if your trying to get kids off the street you have to build things you would find in the street
you should just try and get a good box rail. 10ft long and knee height. The one they have at the Level skate park is a good example also the one at Plumpton skate park. that or don’t build anything and save up and get a decent half pipe. its sad cause the Woodingdean one was replaced with a small narrow ramp that is useless. and the old Peachaven one was replaces with some small narrow ramps too. i feel bad for kids today cause if anything the skating facilities in our local area have got worse! if you were going to build something good i would happy to run marathons and raise money. heck i would throw in a £100 myself. but please don’t spend all that money rubbish.
i used to have a home made box rail like this http://www.xtremeskater.com/ramp-plans/grindbox/ thats all skater really want
whens the next meeting maybe i could come along and help you save money and build something people would like 
its a win win to me but £3,000 seems like lot of money for something so bad :S
thx
william
Please could you find out if Saltdean Bowls Club is closing down – I have been a member there for a few years – and I would like to know the situation. Thank you
I think the extention to the skateboard area is a good idea, but once again other community areas are being overlooked. Saltdean Bowling Club is a public green serving the community and for the past 10 years or so we have been trying to have an automatic watering system installed. During this time the council has helped both Woodingdean & Rottingdean, (both public greens) with this facility. One of thereasons given by the council for not improving the facilities at Saltdean is the high level of vandalism. Is Saltdean that bad?
does anybody know the exact date, the extension begins and if its definatly happening? reply asap
Yes it is definitely happening. Work will start once the new kit in the playground has been installed. This is due to start in April and will take a couple of weeks.
I think that extending the skateboard park is an appropriate use of community funds. We can see the area from our house and are impressed by the fact that children and young people of all ages use it constantly, and appear to behave responsibly and with consideration towards each other. Younger children on their scooters usually seem to be there earlier in the day and we’ve not noticed any conflict with older skate-boarders, who tend to use it later on.
I hope current and potential users of the skate park have been consulted about the improvements they want. And if these can be provided much more cheaply, as suggested by William Bullock – but still to the necessary quality and safety standards – that would be great! There would then be more money to spare for other community facilities.
Just one further thought on all this. We don’t see many older girls on skateboards. What thought is being given to leisure facilities for them?
Nah, they didnt listen to me
lol what they are building isnt very good :S but i tried just seems people want to tick boxs not build good things ……. ive been down there lots theses days and kids down there are a nice bunch. maybe a nice mini would be the next thing to really get people excited about skating there. everything is so small in the park that by the time you learn to do anything you have to leave the park and skate bultlins hotel ledges or the school. the funny thing is that the most skated thing in the park is the rubber blocks someone took from the people building the new park stuff. whats in the park now is fine for 5-12 year old skaters but after that it is crap 
what ever you do next think big 
ramps so small down there i cant land my back flips 
is annoying lol anyway street skating is more fun to be honest so maybe whatever you build kids are gunna leave the park to skate bigger thing and better things.
when is it happening and specific dates?
Dear William – Bridget here from the SRA. Thanks for your comments about the skateboard park extension.
The skate park in Saltdean Oval was designed for young beginner skaters ie children. There are other bigger facilities elsewhere in Brighton and Hove and surrounding areas. The thinking is that older kids and adults can jump on the bus to get a more challenging skate experience at The Level etc.
The additional pieces planned were the result of consultation with young skaters a couple of years.
PARC has put a great deal of time, energy and money into making this happen, but it is not its remit to provide skate facilities for adults. There’s no reason why you couldn’t organise to get permission and raise the money for a larger facility – PARC would be happy to advise you on how to get things moving.
cheers
bridget
Would just like to say a HUGE thankyou to Bridget and all those involved who decided to put some of the funding towards the skatepark extension. It’s proactive people like yourself that gives Saltdean such a great community spirit, and make for such a nice place to live. I’m sure the extra facilities to the park will help the younger skaters develop their skills that bit more thanks to you.
WELL DONE!!
how comes now peacehaven are getting an amazing skate park! we’ve been trying for 3 years now and only gat a grind box.