Schoolchildren from Winklebury held a scooter-riding competition to raise funds for replacement skate ramps on Sunday.
Up to 30 pupils from Fort Hill Community School worked with the Winklebury Youth Project to organise an event they hoped would kick-start the skate park campaign.
The Winklebury Football Complex car park hosted two hours of training and tricks, with prizes awarded for the best on show. The day helped raise £130 for the project.
Lea Jeff runs the youth project. She claimed that without a dedicated facility, youngsters were forced to skate amongst pedestrians, in underpasses and on pavements.
“We think this is dangerous,” she said.
The original skate park was burnt down by arsonists two years ago. Made of wood with two half-pipe ramps, it was one of four dedicated skate parks in Basingstoke. The other parks are in the War Memorial Park, Old Basing, Oakridge and Chineham.
Winklebury councillor Andrew McCormick supported Sunday’s event.
He said: “There are a shortage of these type of facilities around the town. We don’t have enough considering the interest from young people in the community.”
He estimated that it would cost at least £40,000 to replace the wooden ramps with new, metal facilities. He said: “Undeterred by the enormity of the task of raising several thousands of pounds to get a new metal set of ramps built, the young people have decided to raise the money themselves.
“They will appreciate any contributions from local residents, businesses and community groups to help them on their way.
“The council has decided to support the fundraising efforts of the students and we hope that yesterday's event will provide a seed corn around which more funding can grow.”
He said Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council had refused to provide all the funds for the new build.
Ms Jeff told the Observer she was sympathetic to the borough council’s position given current widespread cuts in funding.
She said: “We don’t care if they can’t assist financially, we wanted to help the children. They deserve to have the skateboarding facility they’re working for.”
Winklebury Cycles provided a dozen scooters and accessories for organisers to sell on the day, with all profits going to the children’s fund.
And prior to the event pupils collected more than £300 through fundraising activities including a community cake sale.
Ms Jeff said she hoped the commitment the children have shown will help future applications for government funding.
