Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Skatepark bid for warehouse
Ambitious plans to open a skatepark in a city warehouse have been revealed.
The FAR Skate Academy, based in Whitstable, wants to use the unit vacated by Fenwick at the Wincheap Industrial Estate.
Founder and CEO of the FAR Reach Foundation Brent Lewis said it would be “overwhelming” for youngsters if the scheme was given the green light.
“We got really big plans,” he says. “But we just need some corporate sponsors and people to get on board with the project. “There are lots of skaters who use areas like the steps outside the Marlowe Theatre and get thrown out - and the Castle Street car park is where they go where it is raining and there has been graffiti.”
The academy, at the John Wilson Estate, is a building and design school which uses skateboarding to engage vulnerable young people who struggle to learn in mainstream education. Due to popular demand, with a waiting list of about 70 children, it is now in talks with Fenwick bosses. The large storeroom closed its shutters for the final time in October last year. It would cost £130,000 per year to rent the unit and about £500,000 to set up the school. The ground floor would have a skatepark and a gallery to display local artists work. Upstairs it is proposed there will be classrooms and a “social enterprise café” where youngsters can gain work experience. Walls will also be made available for graffiti art - so people can do it legally.
Mr Lewis added: “We have 250 kids who use the facilities in Whitstable every week.
“The new school would tackle antisocial behaviour, reduce the number of young people not in education, address the graffiti issues in the city and build a stronger community where future athletes can train.” He also said there is a “big hole” in Canterbury for skateboarding enthusiasts due to a lack of parks.
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