After years of delays, Hertford's skatepark on Hartham Common finally opened on 1st December 2007

The skatepark was opoened by Executive member for community development, leisure and culture, Linda Haysey.

Work on the park started at the end of September. Steve Crawford, of Freestyle, the company that designed the skatepark, said: "The design will provide lots of variety and will appeal to beginners and professionals alike.

A contract for the first phase of Hertford' skatepark has been awarded to Freestyle Skateparks.

The company was the only one to tender for the £100,000 contract, despite four others showing an initial interest.

The plan is to build the skatepark in two stages, the second phase following when funds become available.

Plans for a skatepark for Hartham Common have been reluctantly put on hold, after just one company expressed an interest in building it.

East Herts Council had promised £100,000 towards building a £200,000 scheme after Hertford Skatepark Group promised to raise the rest of the cash needed. The group also helped draw up the specification and the list of skatepark builders to be approached.

The plan was to build the skatepark for 10-17 year-olds in two stages, but four out of five companies approached to build the park weren't interested.

Cllr Parker added: "It's very disappointing - but it seems that, despite assurances to the contrary, companies were not interested in building a half-now, half-later skatepark where there are doubts that the extra £100,000 will be raised."

Hertford Skatepark Group will now be given 12 months to raise the cash. The £100,000 from East Herts Council will also be put aside until then. When the extra money is raised, companies will be approached again to re-tender.

Consultants SK8MK were dropped from the project in August after public protests againts their involvement.

A public meeting to discuss plans for a future skatepark in the town descended into a protest over a consultants' credentials.

The consultants, SK8MK, a part of Milton Keynes Council, had been brought in to find out what skaters wanted from the park.

Many skaters were unhappy that the original plans for a £180,000 skatepark had been scaled back, after the Hertford Skate Park Group were unable to find the necessary funding and the project was taken over by the District Authority.

There will be a further meeting to discuss the design of the park on 30th August.

Have your say and tell us what you think Hertford's skatepark plans.

East Herts District Council have doubled the amout of money allocated for the provision of a skatepark on Hartham Common.

Last year (2005) the council put £45,000 towards the construction of the skate park and at this year's annual meeting they decided to increase that amount to £100,000. However councillors emphasised that the grant is provisional on the Hertford Town Council agreeing to finance all the ongoing costs such as insurance, inspection, monitoring and maintenance.

The original plans for a skatepark in the town were costed at £180,000, but the Hertford Skatepark Group have not been able to raise this money, meaning that they are now faced with the prospect of drawing up plans for a smaller skatepark which will require a further planning application.

The original plans for a park, located between the children's play area and car park, were drawn up by local architects Kirby Cove and feature three bowls - two enclosed and one open to ground level.

The group's earlier plans for a skatepark nearby were rejected by District Councillors in 2003.

Many skaters currently use Hartham Lane and the War Memorial in the town centre.

See also:
Planning Permission Granted