New skate park after more than 100 letters back it

The skate park will be built in Bassetts Park in Wellingborough

A new skate park in the centre of a town will be built after a council received more than 100 letters of support.

North Northamptonshire Council's planning committee approved plans for Bassetts Park in Wellingborough.

The application was brought to the authority as it had received 16 objections from neighbours during consultations.

Officers said that 129 people had written letters of support for the new skate park.

Concerns raised included the site's potential for anti-social behaviour, the loss of green space in the park, and the visual impact of the new ramps on other park users, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The small skate park currently located in the southern corner of Bassetts Park will now be demolished and reinstated with grass.

The new ramps will be built in a more open area at the top of the park.

'Enhanced community facility'

Along with the new facility, work will begin to install an access path, two CCTV cameras and improved solar lighting to increase visibility at night time.

A previous application submitted in 2021 to build another skate park was rejected due to its visual impact.

Planning officers said this latest application meant "the visual impact of the park is minimised as far as possible".

The report said the skate park plans would provide a sustainable development with an "enhanced community facility", health benefits and "enhancing the character and appearance of the area".