Plans for a skate park in Lichfield have been given the go-ahead.
Lichfield District Council’s planning committee gave the green light to proposals for the new facility in Beacon Park.
In a statement supporting the application, Lichfield Skatepark Association said: “A skatepark is a social asset to any community as it helps to reduce anti-social behaviour.
“Many young people are reluctant to take part in organised activities such as a football team or the Boy Scouts. There is very little else for them to do in their spare time in Lichfield.
“The social benefits of a skatepark are well known around the world. Experience in America, where skateparks were first built, shows that it is important to locate it in the centre of a community, where skaters can be seen in action by the general public.
“The Americans learned that skateparks located on the edge of the community attract gangs and drug users and were abandoned by the skaters.”
The organisation also say that they already have 200 members who would be keen to use the facility.
The new skatepark will also feature a raised mound to act as a sound barrier between the site and nearby housing.
The Lichfield Skatepark Association will now need to begin the task of raising the estimated £350,000 needed to complete the project.
Full details of the plans can be seen on the Lichfield District Council planning website.
