Views Skatepark

OCTOBER 2025 – FULL COUNCIL MINUTES. Item 11: THE VIEWS SKATEPARK – TENDER REPORT & AWARD OF CONTRACT

Members considered the tender report and made an award of contract for The Views Skatepark contract.
Members noted that Design 1 – a highly durable running surface over a marine-grade Birch plywood under-surface option, is significantly below the budgeted figure of £250,000 but will require higher maintenance than a concrete design, estimated around £3,000 every five years.

RESOLVED
a) To award the contract to Bidder A (subsequently revealed to be Fearless Ramps Ltd) for Design 1 at a cost of £160,689.80, subject to satisfactory references and the granting of
a PWLB loan.
b) Members authorised that the annual difference between the budgeted PWLB repayment (£24,200) and the revised repayment (£15,700) be transferred to an Earmarked
Reserve to fund future maintenance costs.

DESIGN 1 pictured below:

29 SEPTEMEBER – Borrowing Approval Update

We are pleased to let residents know that the Hampshire Association of Local Councils approved our borrowing application on 12 September 2025 and have now forwarded it to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government for Secretary of State approval. This stage of the approval process is expected to take around three to four weeks. Once approval is received, we will submit the final application to the UK Debt Management Office for the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) loan. This step is not anticipated to take long. We will continue to keep you updated as the process moves forward.

View the loan application.

3 SEPTEMBER 2025 – FULL COUNCIL MINUTES. ITEM 9: PWLB LOAN FOR SKATEPARK PROJECT

The replacement of the skatepark is a long-held ambition of Fleet Town Council. With the recent ROSPA recommendation to close the facility, this project has taken on a sense of urgency. The tender for a replacement skatepark is currently underway and, as it is being procured on a fixed-price basis, the Council is now in a position to formally request a PWLB loan to cover the cost of delivery.

Members were reminded that the 2025/26 budget already includes provision for a six-month loan repayment based on a £600,000 borrowing envelope (to cover three capital projects, including the skatepark). Consequently, no increase in precept is required to service this loan. In forming their decision, Members considered are the following documents:
-Business Case
-Annex A – Skatepark Presentation
-Annex B – Summary Budget and Forecast
-Annex C – Estimated Repayment Costs
-Annex D – Project Timeline

RESOLVED
a) To note the Business Case and supporting annexes demonstrating the need, financial sustainability, and community support for the project.
b) To confirm that loan repayments for the skatepark project will be met from within the existing 2025/26 budget allocation for capital projects.
c) To seek the approval of the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to apply for a PWLB loan of £250,000 over the borrowing term of 15 years for the replacement of the Skatepark at The Views. The annual loan repayments will come to around £24,200. It is not intended to increase the council tax precept for the purpose of the loan repayments.
d) To delegate authority to the Executive Officer, in consultation with the Chairman of the Council, to finalise and submit the PWLB loan application and to take all necessary actions to progress the project to construction stage once approval is secured.

Following a recent independent safety inspection of all our leisure facilities, we’ve had to close and decommission the Skatepark at The Views with immediate effect. Some key structural elements have now reached the end of their life, and ROSPA has advised they can no longer be safely repaired.

We know this news will be disappointing – the Skatepark has been a much-loved space in our community – but this marks the start of an exciting new chapter.

The tender process for a brand-new Skatepark has already begun > https://www.fleet-tc.gov.uk/news/2025/contract-for-the-views-skate-park-design-supply-and-installation

Subject to approval, the project is expected to move quickly, with the aim of appointing a contractor and agreeing the final design in October.

In the meantime, closure signs will be displayed and the gates padlocked. We kindly ask everyone to respect the closure for your own safety – using the site while it’s closed poses a serious risk and could delay the new build.

While we know it’s not ideal, alternative local facilities you can use include:
• Edenbrook Country Park Pump Track – RG27 8BA
• Church Crookham Skatepark – GU52 8AU
• Farnborough Skatepark – GU14 7RY
• Farnham Skatepark – GU9 7UF

We appreciate your patience – and we’re committed to delivering a fantastic new Skatepark for everyone to enjoy.

Stay tuned for updates – it’s going to be worth the wait!

Fleet Town Council contacted local schools, displayed posters, scheduled social media adverts and liaised with Fleet Phoenix to find out what users would like to see in a new skatepark and they said:

• Quieter materials to reduce noise
• Designed with scooter use in mind
• Zones for different skill levels

Fleet Skatepark was installed by Hart District Council in 2004/2005 before being transferred to Fleet Town Council upon its creation in 2010.

The skatepark has a memorial plaque in memory of Michael Bews who campaigned to have the skatepark opened.

The Skatepark is home to the Scam Jam – a freestyle scooter and BMX contest held every year, organised by Fleet Phoenix.