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LYME Regis Town Council has agreed to wheel out almost another £2,000 to help secure a skatepark in the town.

Plans for a facility in Charmouth Road car park are stepping up a gear and the obligatory sound tests were held there last month to assess the noise impact on surrounding residents.

But the test - which cost almost £500 - has proved to be virtually useless and will have to be re-done at extra cost.

Speaking at last Wednesday's community plan implementation sub-committee, Coun Lucy Campbell, chairman of the Skatepark Facility Working Group, said the tests were carried out between 10am and 4pm and did not even cover the busiest times of the day.

She said they did not realise they had commissioned a shorter test, plus the results were useless as they were in 'complete jargon'.

On behalf of the working group, Coun Campbell asked the committee for £1,675 from the skatepark working group budget to carry out a longer test, starting from 4pm where they left off.

It would also include an interpretation to understand the results in layman's terms.

Coun Campbell said: "With the advice of the district council officers we have to have a valid sound test to go ahead with the planning application. In my eyes, it is not money that is wasted but it is a shame we are going to be spending more money."

She also asked for £200 plus Vat to pay for a ground stability assessment, to satisfy planning criteria.

While most councillors agreed to release the cash, former council worker Coun Ken Hitchcock voted against.

"I'm sorry, but it's too much," he said. "I think we have wasted enough money on it - we are throwing money down the drain again."

Coun Hitchcock said when a temporary skateboarding facility was installed in Langmoor Gardens, it was an 'absolute disgrace' and he felt the new amenity would have the same problems.

But Coun Campbell said she had spoken with Lyme police officer PC Richard Winward, who said the PCSOs would be making regular stops there as part of their daily patrols.

The meeting also heard that a skatepark expert from Dorset Community Action has looked at the chosen site and called it 'ideal'.

9:51am Friday 9th May 2008

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