Skatepark is on the move
A Black Country skatepark which is credited for cutting anti-social behaviour in the town could be saved from the axe with talks under way to find a new venue. A Black Country skatepark which is credited for cutting anti-social behaviour in the town could be saved from the axe with talks under way to find a new venue. Ramparts, in the basement of the Bell Street car park, Stourbridge, will be forced to move out when the lease expires this summer. The whole car park will then be flattened and rebuilt as part of the £20 million redevelopment of the Crown Centre. This led to fears the park would have to be closed down meaning more than 4,000 skaters who use it would be back on the streets. Owner of Ramparts Lois Bramall said today she had ideas for new sites and was in talks with Tesco about a new venue or contribution as part of their community funding programme. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
Ramparts, in the basement of the Bell Street car park, Stourbridge, will be forced to move out when the lease expires this summer.
The whole car park will then be flattened and rebuilt as part of the £20 million redevelopment of the Crown Centre. This led to fears the park would have to be closed down meaning more than 4,000 skaters who use it would be back on the streets.
Owner of Ramparts Lois Bramall said today she had ideas for new sites and was in talks with Tesco about a new venue or contribution as part of their community funding programme.
She said: "We are still looking for sites. There are one or two possibilities that I am looking at.
"We very much hope that Ramparts will continue rather than it just die."
Mrs Bramall said she was hoping to finish her arrangements with Bell Street car park owners Dudley Councl – after they said she owed £50,000 in rent for the site.
A campaign was then started to raise the funds, which is still ongoing.
She added: "I have been told by many councillors that the number of complaints about children hanging out on the streets has gone down a great deal since we opened.
This facility is desperately needed most of the year. It is used seven days a week. Without it children would be back on the streets."
Ramparts opened in 2004 after Mrs Bramall claimed the council was dragging its feet about providing its own facility.
