ST Helier’s skate park is due to close this month – with a planning application for a promised replacement yet to materialise.
The site at New North Quay will shut on 18 December.
Ports of Jersey have submitted a planning application to convert the site into a freight-handling zone for port operations – part of its wider ‘Master Plan’ to transform the area and increase freight capacity.
Originally a car park before its transformation into a skate park in 2008, the New North Quay site will revert to its former use, in line with conditions forming part of the original planning application.
Assistant Economic Development Minister Lucy Stephenson, who has responsibility for sport, said: “The New North Quay Skatepark was only ever designed as a temporary arrangement for 15 years, and its planning permit reflects that.”
She also said that a replacement town skate park at South Hill, Mount Bingham, remained in the pipeline, despite previous attempts to get the idea off the ground having hit numerous hurdles.
“The team is working through some of the finer details before a planning application can be submitted,” she continued.
“There’s money allocated in the Government Plan to allow us to move this forward as quickly as possible, and it remains a priority for both myself and the Infrastructure Minister.”
This is part of a one-year pilot programme to create more skate facilities in town.
