Bourne Skatepark will finally be going ahead.
BTC Press Release – March 2022
(Bourne Town Council, Bourne United Charities and Dimension Skatepark)
After a 20-year long campaign by a group of enthusiastic volunteers their efforts to provide a 'multi-wheeled sports facility' in Bourne will be realised and hopefully ready for use by this summer.
It is fair to record that the group’s fortunes have had their share of optimistic highs and frustrating lows throughout its journey but none the less it has raised both awareness and vital funding in order to make its vision a reality.
The concept that the youth of Bourne deserved a skatepark was mooted from the turn of the century and started to take shape when Bourne United Charities offered a suitable piece of land adjacent to the football ground in 2012 and work began on designing the facility with the close involvement of the young people of Bourne. In 2016 the group officially registered with the Charity Commission in the name of ‘Dimension Skatepark’ and planning permissions were sought and secured in 2017 and 2020.
A major step forward came in May 2018 when Sport England offered a grant of £100,000, one third of the needed target to be added to previously secured pledges.
Having endured many hurdles along the way, Dimension Skatepark has welcomed the backing of Bourne Town Council that has agreed to assist the team by taking ownership of the project, control of the build and future management of the facility.
The Town Council, supported by a S106 loan from South Kesteven District Council, along with numerous offers of financial support from local organisations such as The Len Pick Trust and Bourne Round Table, is happy that it will be able to undertake its responsibilities without imposing any increase in cost to local residents.
A management team has been created to carry the project through to completion, which consists of representatives of the Town Council, Dimension Skatepark and Bourne United Charities. Final discussions are being held with the design and build company contracted for the initiative (CANVAS Spaces Ltd) and construction is expected to start in April 2022.
Great credit is due to the persistence and dedication of the members of Dimension Skatepark and to all those individuals and organisations who have generously supported the project over the years.