New £84,000 skate ramp opens for young people

Mark Ormston thanked everyone involved in the project which had been in the works for over a decade

A new £84,000 skate ramp has been officially opened by two mayors.

The new facility next to Fernie Close in Newborough, Peterborough, was approved by Peterborough City Council in 2023, despite objections concerning noise and anti-social behaviour.

Mark Ormston, the chairman of Newborough and Borough Fen Parish Council which initially proposed the ramp, thanked everyone involved.

"There's been concern about anti-social behaviour and this kind of thing, but ultimately it is the children of this parish that wanted this project and wanted this ramp here. We're really pleased to get it in place for them," he said.

The skate ramp received a number of objections at planning stage but it was eventually given approval by Peterborough City Council

Funding for the ramp came from a variety of sources, including Section 106 funding, the parish council, a Sport England grant, a donation from the Foresters Friendly Society and fundraising from children and the community.

Judy Fox, the Mayor of Peterborough, helped to cut the ceremonial ribbon for the ramp on 8 August and said she was "so pleased to see it open", added the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"The children have waited a long time for it. There have been a lot of problems but it's all worked out alright in the end and it's fantastic," she added.

Paul Bristow, the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, also attended the opening.

"It's so important that young people have somewhere to go and somewhere they can have as their own," he said.

"I hope the young people of Newborough and surrounding areas enjoy it."

Eye, Thorney and Newborough ward councillors Steve Allen and Rylan Ray also attended the opening, alongside councillor John Fox, Sandra Rust of the Foresters Friendly Society and parish council clerk Irene Healiss.