Skate ramp could return to Sumner

Sumner skateboarders could soon have their popular ramp back.

The Christchurch City Council is considering allowing a temporary ramp to be resurrected on the corner of Nayland St and Wakefield Ave.

The site is about 80 metres from the ramp’s last location, which was shut down in February for exceeding noise limits.

The Sumner Green and Skate group has been working with the council since then to find another suitable temporary location for the wooden ramp.

It was first established in 2012 as part of the village green on the former Sumner community centre site. The ramp, which had 11,000 visits a year, operated there until 2016 when it moved to 2 Wakefield Ave to make way for construction of a new community centre.

It was then shut down in February.

A report to be discussed at the Linwood Central Heathcote Community Board meeting on July 31, recommends the skate ramp be resurrected at the corner of 26 Nayland St.

A resource consent would be needed because the activity could exceed the noise limits.

The report said the commercial zone surrounding the site was subject to high noise levels from traffic during the day, so it was anticipated noise effects would be acceptable. The ramp would close at 9pm. The Red Snapper owner Adam Jenkins said the skate ramp, which would be across the road from his fish and chip shop, would be good for business.

‘‘We definitely need something out here for the younger generation.’’

The Village Inn owner Cate Toomey said it would be great to get the temporary ramp up and going again. She also believed it would be good for businesses because there were lots of places nearby where parents could go and relax while their children were safely playing at the ramp.

The ramp would be temporary until a permanent skate park was built in the Sumner bays area.

Council parks head Andrew Rutledge said earlier this month, once the site criteria had been decided, the council would engage an independent consultant to identify sites fitting the criteria.

The sites identified during that process would then be considered by the Linwood Central Heathcote Community Board, prior to being put out for public consultation.