Mixed News for Shepway Skaters: Hythe Skate Park re-opens as Folkestone faces Winter closure

News that the skateboard park at Folkestone Sports Centre may be closed over the winter in response to complaints from local residents about noise has been balanced by the re-opening in the last few weeks of the Hythe skate park. Lib Dem controlled Hythe Town Council secured the re-opening of the park after receiving planning permission to reopen the site after an extended closure.

A meeting at the Folkestone sports centre on Wednesday heard that it may have to temporarily close from 1 December while the noise problem is resolved. The skate park was opened under a year ago, but has been under threat of closure for several months. Shepway Council's chief executive Alistair Stewart told a public meeting it may have to shut during the winter, but insisted the council would ensure it was reopened.

Hythe Town Councillor Neil Matthews has welcomed the re-opening of Hythe Park. Neil said:

"We were delighted that we could re-open the skate park - it was a well used facility for young people locally, and we hope it will be again. With security provided by a CCTV system, the park is open all day, and notices have just gone up advertising that its back in business!"

Darren Briddock, who lives overlooking the Hythe Skate Park said:

"It's great to see the park re-open, and to see it being used as intended. It sometimes seems that there is little interest offering facilities to young people - but lots of interest in complaining when they skate on roads, pavements and the seafront as there is nowhere else to go."

Lib Dem Youth campaigner Sam Matthews added:

"I hope Folkestone's skaters can make it to Hythe's Park during the winter, and that their park can re-open soon. It's obviously important that residents near to Folkestone Sports Centre are protected from excess noise, and I hope the problems can be dealt with quickly and completely.

"It does seem odd that this problem was not foreseen or dealt with at the time the park was built - have skateboards got much louder in the last year?"