Edinburgh’s park is going to be getting built by Clachan and the build starts next week. Here is a news article from the Evening News:
WORK is finally set to start this
weekend on the city’s first major purpose-built skatepark – ending a ten-year
wait.
The controversial £750,000 scheme at
Saughton Park will be completed by the spring of next year, with the park
remaining open throughout.
Culture leader Councillor Deidre Brock said:
"It’s great news that work is soon to begin on Saughton Skatepark.
"Our sports team has worked very closely with the Edinburgh Skatepark
Project (ESP) to create the best possible facility and I know skaters are very
excited that these plans are now finally coming to fruition.
"The
addition of a skatepark and improvements to play facilities will help make the
Saughton area a genuine sports hub.
"The sheer range of different
activities on offer will benefit people of all ages, helping them to stay active
and boost their health and wellbeing."
Clachan Construction – which has
developed similar facilities in Glasgow, Dundee and Perth – has been appointed
as the main contractor.
Local authority chiefs have also issued
reassurances that there will be minimal disruption to park users, and no damage
to existing mature trees in the area.
The area, spanning 2,100 square
metres, will be available for skaters, BMX bike riders and
rollerbladers.
It will be sunk below ground level and comprise ramps and
competition standard features.
Sam Paterson, a spokesman for the ESP,
said: "The ESP is delighted that this will be the last summer that the skaters,
BMXers and bladers of Edinburgh of all ages will be without a purpose-built
skate facility.
"We feel that Edinburgh will have a facility truly worthy
of a capital city. It’s been a long wait."
Saughton Park already has
several grass football pitches, an enclosed running track, a play area and a new
all-weather full-size ‘third generation’ pitch and seven-a-side area. The
skatepark will be located to the east of the Balgreen Road play
area.
Previous highly-controversial bids to build skateparks at the
Meadows and Inverleith Park have failed, prompting the council and ESP to turn
their attention to Saughton.
Some local protesters said it would bring an
increase in anti-social behaviour to the area, as well as excessive traffic and
noise.
But council officials approved plans for the scheme in December of
last year with the support of police and the local community council.