Fervent debate on a proposed skatepark for Monkton Park led to accusations of anti-social behaviour from both sides.

A public meeting in Chippenham’s West End social club last Wednesday night was attended by about 80 people, of which a third were young skateboarders.

Memories of the skatepark ripped out of Monkton Park 11 years ago were high on the agenda, with one of the first questions being: “Why was the last one there shut?”

Meeting chairman Peter Hutton, who leads the skatepark task group, said: “Anti-social behaviour, and the main thing was the noise. We have documentary evidence to say that will be mitigated.”

He said that any anti-social behaviour would be something for the community to resolve.

One resident said: “We were there when the last one was there. We are very near to the train station and had gangs coming from Bristol.”

One man, who said he took his grandchildren to the play area in Monkton Park near the proposed site, said: “Any day after 4pm it is invaded by older school children. Their behaviour is dangerous and inappropriate and their language around young children unacceptable.”

But Gary Woodland, who owns a Chippenham skate shop, said: “The only thing that is anti-social about this whole episode is the attitude of the adults.”

Town councillor Melody Thompson said: “Why do you buy a house so close to a public park if you don’t want to share it with youngsters?”

Finn Eyles, 18, said: “You say we cannot go next to the children’s play area but we volunteered at the Bridge Centre to teach primary school children how to use ramps. Do you really think we are going to cause problems next to a police station?”

A noise report commissioned in January by the task group for Monkton Park, circulated at the meeting, read: “Each consultant has worked independently and has concluded that, with appropriate mitigation, the proposed facility would be acceptable in acoustic terms.”

Coun Hutton apologised to the youth of Chippenham for the length of time they had been waiting for a facility. He said: “It has taken too long but we will deliver it, you have my word on that.”

Sadlers Mead resident Richard Taylor said he was disappointed at the number of people who turned out, after 1,123 signed a petition against Monkton Park.

Town councillor Andy Phillips said: “Stop two-and-a-half years of dithering and squabbling, put Monkton Park forward and give it to the planners to decide and end this argument.”

The matter will be passed on September 10 to the area board for it to make the decision and submit a planning application.

Variety of views aired on hot topic

  • Wiltshire Council youth worker Kevin Sweeney: “We are not aware of any evidence that says having children next to teenagers is detrimental to development. It helps build community.”
  • Wiltshire Councillor Bill Douglas: “We do encounter anti-social behaviour and we deal with it. At Long Close we had a big problem in the kids’ play park. We highlighted it to police and, with their help, we got rid of the problem.”
  • Richard Bartlett, in the wheel sports industry: “It takes a lot to get noise past 50m. With metal or wood there is a problem but technology has moved on a lot in the last 10 years.“Monkton Park is perfect because it’s family orientated. Ten million people aged three to 38 across the UK like wheel sports. There is nowhere to go. There are 6,500 facilities for ball sports but only 300 for wheel sports.”
  • Andy Holyoake, chair of governors at Hardenhuish School and former police officer: “My now 21-year-old son has grown up waiting for a skate park to arrive.“Being in close proximity to those 10 years older than them isn’t going to turn them into monsters. The young people over there are being branded as socially inept thugs.“At skateparks they take turns, queue, applaud, appreciate the success of others and teach their skills to younger ones.“It won’t be metal like the last one and you cannot loiter under a concrete slab.”
  • Town councillor Melody Thompson: “I am speaking as a mother of two teenage sons and a four-year-old girl. I believe that having the two play areas together is a positive thing. The older ones act as mentors; it certainly works in my household. I don’t want my children pushed out to the outskirts of the town and made to feel like they’re not part of our society. It leaves them potentially vulnerable.”
  • Leader of Wiltshire Council Jane Scott: “I am very saddened that a community can talk about its young people as they have.“This debacle has gone on for two-and-a-half years; there has been excuse after excuse after excuse not to deliver a park.“They’re cheesed off with us, they feel that they’re not being listened to and why the hell should they come to another public meeting?“Monkton Park is a public open space for every member of the Chippenham community area, including our youth, of which there are 6,000 between the ages of 10 and 20.“They deserve something that they’ve been asking for for eight years.“Monkton Park is close to all the transport links, leisure centre, police station and the town’s businesses.“People who buy houses that back onto a public open space do need to be heard and will be through the planning process.”
  • Councillor Peter Hutton: “It is appalling that many of our youngsters are going to Newbury and Middleton to skate, taking money out of the town.”
  • Sadlers Mead resident Alan Gould: “I was promised in a letter from the then chairman of the task group in April 2012 that the first consideration is whether it will increase noise. Some gardens are less than 100m away.“No one in their right mind truly believes there will not be an increase in noise. Only a fool would believe that to be the case.“I hope they will abandon this foolish exercise in vandalism of Monkton Park.”
  • Wiltshire Councillor for Monkton Chris Caswill, who joined the task group after this year’s election: “You have chosen possibly the most divisive site you could.“It will stretch from the games area to a few feet off the footpath by the river; it will bisect the park, be a barrier between the golf course end and the town bridge end.“Monkton Park is about to be changed in character if you succeed with this and the majority of people don’t want it.”
  • Resident Mr Pitt: “The task group is trying to split us into two groups.“With the amount of development due to go on in Chippenham, Monkton Park is a very precious green space.“If they had come up with a less contentious site it would have been up and running by now.”
  • Another resident: “We are very blessed having a park right in the middle of Chippenham.I met an old lady who comes from Bath twice a week because she loves it.”