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Bridlington's skatepark shuts on week days
IT took almost a decade to become a reality, was hailed nationally as one of the best facilities of its kind and cost £500,000 to create.
But after less than two years in operation, dwindling visitor numbers have forced Bridlington's Gasworx skatepark to close its doors on week days.
In August last year things could not have been more different as the skatepark, off Moorfield car park, welcomed international BMX stars from across the world when it hosted the Vans Off The Wall UK BMX Tour.
It attracted youngsters from all over the country and top national skateboarding magazine Sidewalk claimed it was 'near to perfect' in a glowing six-page feature about the facility.
The magazine's editor Ben Powell said Bridlington should be proud for creating 'something incredible'.
But this week Bridlington Mayor Coun Cyril Marsburg confirmed that nowadays the facility was not busy enough to open Monday to Friday.
"It is disappointing," he said.
"The youth of this town campaigned for years that they wanted this skatepark, complaining that there was nothing for them to do in Bridlington.
"But it has not been supported by the local youths.
"It is a real disappointment.
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It was a long process, but we managed to get grants and funding, we really wanted it to work.”
The town council first took on the project back in June 1999 and was petitioned by 1,000 youngsters desperate to see a skatepark in Bridlington.
The project had to overcome a number of hurdles, from funding shortfalls to health and safety issues, but Gasworx opened with great fanfare in March 2008.
One of the reasons Coun Marsburg suggested for the demise in popularity of Gasworx was the recent opening of a much larger skatepark in Scarborough – which is free.
Entry to Gasworx costs 3.25 for one hour’s use for non-members, rising to 7.50 for non-members to use the park all day.
But Scarborough’s Hairy Bob’s skatepark, which opened on August 22 this year, is free to users.
Ste Asquith, head of Skate 4 Scarborough, a youth organisation that helped create the facility on Scarborough’s North Bay, said it was always heaving with visitors.
“On a nice clear day it’s not unusual for us to have up to 250 visitors to the park and even on evenings there’ll be up to 100 people there,” said Ste.
“I know that people come from as far as Doncaster and York to use it, so I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot are coming across from Bridlington as well.
“I visited Bridlington’s skatepark before we built ours and I knew it was good – but we also knew that ours would be much bigger with lots more things to do.”
Coun Marsburg said the admission charge for Gasworx helped keep the facility safe for users.
He said: “The reason that there is a small charge is that it is always supervised and is kept as a safe, nice environment for everybody,” he said,
He said security would continue to patrol the premises overnight to prevent anybody trying to climb over the fences into the park.
Gasworx had already reduced its opening hours for winter, but from Monday it will be closed five days a week – opening only at weekends and on bank holidays.
Manager Alex Crutchley left his position last week.
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Weather for Bridlington
Thursday 09 February 2012
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Temperature: 0 C to 1 C
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