THE owners of a popular world-class skatepark in Stroud have launched a desperate last minute appeal to find a new home for the facility.
Rush Skatepark, one of Stroud’s most popular sports venues, could be forced to leave the district is a new site can't be found.
The skatepark’s owners, Jerry and Michelle Norman, opened Rush Skatepark in 2013 at Brimscombe Port near Stroud.
Since opening, the facility has become established as a big player within the international skatepark community, and has hosted national and international competitions including the World Championships in 2014, 2015 and 2019, attracting thousands of people to the Stroud area from all over the world.
But as the development of Brimscombe Port continues apace, and with the skatepark lease due to run out at the end of June, the popular facility faces having to close its doors permanently.
The Normans are now appealing to landowners with an appropriate site to come forward.
“There must be somewhere out there which can offer us a more permanent home,” said Jerry.
“We need a warehouse-style unit at least 7m in height, with parking and safe access for the public.
“Most of the sites we looked at which might have been suitable are earmarked for housing or supermarkets.
"We would love to stay around Stroud, but of course we’re willing to look further for the right site.
"We are appealing to site owners across the county to hold out a hand to us.”
The lack of a new site is not for want of looking for one.
Despite spending the past four years searching in and around Gloucestershire and viewing 15 potential sites to find a new base, the couple have drawn a complete blank.
Jerry added that Stroud District Council had been very supportive over the years and tried hard to help find a new home, even suggesting land at the council-owned Stratford Park, a site which ultimately proved to be unviable.
Since opening, Rush Skatepark has offered a world class facility that has catered to riders of all levels, from grass-roots beginners all the way up to active, competing professional riders from the now Olympic sports of Skateboarding and BMX as well as up and coming action sports, scootering and inline skating which have seen an incredible surge in popularity in the past eight years.
As a Community Interest Company, Rush Skatepark are also known for their well-established coaching program which has been run and developed alongside experienced coaches from all disciplines since 2014. This program, alongside their world class facilities and rider support program has led to Rush helping the development and progression of thousands of riders, local and otherwise, including a British champion and European champion.
Jerry and Michelle have also been working with The Grace Network, their neighbours at Brimscombe Port, who run the Stroud District Furniture Bank, The Long Table, Stroud District Kids Stuff, Kick Off Stroud and other social businesses which are also facing the end of their lease, looking at options for a joint site which could benefit both organisations in terms of footfall, funding and overheads.
A spokeswoman for Stroud District Council said: "We have worked closely with the owners of Rush Skatepark since 2015 to help them find alternative premises, and keep them in the district, however because of their unusual requirements nothing has yet come up. We offered them council land in the grounds of Stratford Park at a peppercorn rent.
"The few remaining tenants at the Port were aware of our development plans when their contracts were drawn up, and we have been assisting a number of them, including Rush to find new premises, and will continue to do so.
"We echo Rush’s appeals for site owners to come forward if they think they may have suitable premises to offer.
"Stroud District Council’s ambitious plans for Brimscombe Port will transform a partially derelict site into an exemplar development of low carbon housing, business, retail, leisure, public space and the reinstatement of the canal and basin. It will have huge economic, social and environmental benefits for both the immediate area and the wider district. There will be space for community and social enterprise to set up and flourish, creating new jobs and enterprise opportunities.
"We have committed £2.9m towards the infrastructure for the site, planning permission has now been granted and the next stage is to clear the buildings many of which are in poor repair and now empty; ready for a developer partner.”
Share