INITIAL designs for a new skatepark in Wells were unveiled to an audience of wheeled sports enthusiasts in November.
Russ Holbert and Ian Jennings from the Maverick Skateparks design and installation specialists displayed the design images at a meeting in Wells Town Hall attended by nearly 50 people.
They said that the Wells site, near Waitrose, is one of the hardest they have ever had to deal with because of its topography and the considerable fall along the site.
They had allowed for that and taken into consideration feedback from past consultations to come up with a design for a concrete skatepark incorporating a number of features that fills about two-thirds of the existing space.
Ian said that trying to remove the existing tarmac would be a huge expense and that the most economical approach was to work within the existing landscape. The design they have come up with follows the topography enough so that the riding surfaces can integrate.
He said that the first concept was longer and thinner but was not really working out.
Russ said that it is a huge space, and that a bit of blending around the edges of the proposed new skatepark was probably needed. He explained that there were drainage issues on the site so a big soakaway needs to be incorporated, and that they had introduced a bit of green space on one side.
A possible phase two of development could include seating or planting, he suggested.
The initial design that Maverick have come up with for a new Wells Skatepark
The pair answered questions about the design, and said that there is flexibility with it if people want to suggest changes.
The survey consultation has been opened again over the Christmas period to give people a chance to think about it and make comments (maverickskateparks.co.uk/wells).
The next steps are to submit a planning application, and then focus on the £500,000 in fundraising required. Ian said that – assuming all goes well with those – it would probably be summer 2026 before work would begin on the site, and that it might take 16 to 20 weeks to complete the work.
They were heartened by the number of people who attended the meeting. “It’s very encouraging for us to see such a good turnout,” said Russ.