Plans approved for new skate park in Surrey village

The skate park at Heathervale Recreation Ground in New Haw will be replaced with a slightly larger, concrete apparatus.

Various ramps and bowl features will be installed in the new skating spot, over the footprint of the old wooden and metal park towards the canal.

Members at Runnymede Borough Council Planning Committee unanimously agreed to the “eagerly awaited” new park on February 26.

The new skating park aims to provide a better open space for older children, who may have outgrown the playground but need somewhere to hang out.

But Councillor Peter Snow reminded the committee it’s not just for kids but grown-ups too.

He said: “Most of the people emailing me are 30 or 40 year old men. Skating is a sport that starts at nine years old and all the way up beyond 40.”

The Conservative member for Addlestone South thanked officers for their hard work after “giving them a hard time” for a few years about the park.

Cllr Snow added the park was “long awaited” and his “email inbox thanks you.”

Potential noise coming from the new skate park was highlighted as a key concern as this could disturb neighbours.

But as the recreation ground also includes outdoor tennis courts, bowling green, nursery, playground, basketball court and play pitches, a noise report showed the skating area would not increase the noise.

The closest residential properties are the park homes along Heathervale Way, which are located over 80m from the development.

“Never say never,” officers warned, as they told councillors they could still get complaints from neighbours about the park.

Only three people objected to the plans, raising concerns that the area will be a “canvas for graffiti” and attract anti-social behaviour and noise.

But officers told the committee there is “nothing to indicate that [it] would directly lead to anti-social behaviour”.