After a huge public outcry and a campaign for action, there is good news about the Malton and Norton Skatepark.
At an extraordinary meeting of Norton Town Council tonight (Tuesday) members voted to appoint a contractor, King Ramps, to repair and resurface the smaller ramps.
Town and District councillor Dinah Keal said:“The council has delayed for far too long and the park has been shut for far too long. Hopefully we can not get the contractor on site as soon as possible and get it open again by late spring.”
The long debated repairs to the half-pipe were also discussed at the meeting and a decision made to seek quotes for its repair and resurfacing based on structural survey results recently commissioned by the council.
Cllr Keal added: “As the councillor who originally prevented the town council from scrapping this iconic halfpipe, and member of the campaign group that has been calling for it to be restored for around a year now, I believe the town council also needs to show its support for the community in Norton who have backed our campaign all along.”
The next decision Norton town council needs to take is to give the go ahead for work to restore the half-pipe.
The campaign has had huge community support and numerous offers of help from local qualified contractors to carry out repairs to its steel structure in partnership with a professional skatepark contractor who will resurface the vert ramp.
Cllr Keal said the objections that have been raised have now all been answered and proven incorrect and she can see no reason why they cannot now move forward on the half pipe project too, leading to Norton having a fully functioning and high quality skatepark for skaters to enjoy.
Campaigner Ryan Swain said:
We are a year on since I started the #RescueTheRamp campaign. Tonight we had a progressive breakthrough.
They have FINALLY voted and agreed that the skatepark will be repaired and fixed to it’s original standards by a professional ramp building company with the Mayor, Ann Spencer, breaking the deadlock to get the vote of approval over line once and for all to the joy of myself and the rest of the hardworking campaigners and users of the facility.
I just wanted to thank each and everyone of you who supported, donated, volunteered and contributed to the campaign. My message to anyone out there, if you truly believe in something then stand up and fight the good fight to make it happen.