We’re well aware it’s
been a while since there’s been any info available
re. developments with the Edinburgh skatepark.
Contrary to popular belief, things haven’t ground
to a halt or vanished into thin air, they have been
moving along, albeit at a rate everyone would like
to see increased by several knots!
Where do we start? If anyone can cast their minds
back to the last ‘big event’ – the
public hearing in the City Chambers in March. This
was supposed to decide the location of the skatepark
in Inverleith Park and we hoped, say ‘Yes’
to it going ahead. The result was somewhat different,
a bit of a farce really with one council department
contradicting another and much of what we felt had
been achieved up to that point being questioned because
of web based research into ‘noise pollution’
and it’s impact on skateparks down south. Needless
to say, the outcome wasn't a green light & planning
permission, but a big list of points that still needed
addressing for inclusion in a resubmission of the
skatepark planning application at a later date.
Unfortunately the issue of noise emanating from the
skatepark did become a major issue and could not be
ignored. A few cases of skateparks being shut down
in England, because of the noise generated had to
be researched in detail and preventative measures
have been taken on board in the Edinburgh design.
We are hopeful this work ensures the noise issue has
been fully addressed in the proposals for Edinburgh,
well in advance of any construction. Specialist noise
consultants Sandy Brown Associates (who also recently
worked on the new Dundee concrete park) were brought
in to undertake all the relevant tests, measurements
and calculations from visiting various skateparks,
at a range of times-of-day throughout Scotland. Obviously
this has been a time consuming process and has required
a considerable amount of technical work to be undertaken
to ensure the potential of noise arising from skating
the park will be negligible to the good people of
Inverleith.
In addition to all of this, just prior to summer,
Clive Bowman (the architect), who’s worked with
ESP for the past 3 years on the Edinburgh skatepark
design and various other aspects of the project, moved
on to another job and a replacement had to be found.
The council have recently appointed Karen Clifford
from Dundee as consultant architect (Karen is currently
working on the Dundee outdoor park) to ensure the
planning application is completed to the point requested
by councillors at the public hearing and every issue
on ‘the list’ has been addressed. We understand
the intention is to have the planning application
resubmitted next month and further consultation will
be undertaken prior to the resubmission. We will keep
you posted of any further developments. In the meantime
why not have a look at how Dundee is progressing and
hope, once again, that this will be Edinburgh in 2006....
