NEARLY 70 letters of objection have been submitted against Swindon Council’s plans to build a skate park on open space in West Swindon, which some residents say will increase noise and crime.

The parks department has applied for planning permission to create a concrete skate park at Saltway Field, Middleaze. The council has earmarked £60,000 for the project on the former Saltway Primary School field.

Swindon Council says the facility has the backing of ward councillors and the skating community, and would provide a valuable addition to an area which is already popular with young people who use the play area and multi-use games area that are at the site.

However, 69 residents, including those in nearby Spencer Close, have submitted objections to Swindon Council, claiming the park would create noise and crime. They say it could be used 24/7 because there are no plans to secure the site.

In his letter of objection, Pete Corrie, 49, a father-of-two and professional executive who has lived in the road for 16 years, said: “I have children myself and know that they need somewhere to go.

“However, the proposed skate park is within 50 metres of my house and the noise from children playing football is already significant throughout the year in addition to the local pub.”

Steve Brown, also of Spencer Close, said: “I would like to register my objection to the skate park – I already suffer with noise from the basketball pitch. As this proposed site is only 60m from my property, I consider it to be too close and too noisy.”

There have only been four letters of support.

Resident Brad Clarke said Swindon’s whole skatepark community had wanted a new skate park for some time. He said: “I know there are skate parks but they are ill designed and ill equipped for the size and calibre of our skate community. For the majority of us, skateboarding is our life. Surely we deserve more than a few children's parks.”

Coun Nick Martin (Con, Shaw), said there was a lot of local support, despite the figures, but people tended to be less vocal when they supported something and youngsters were less likely to submit a letter of support through the official channels.

He added: “The planning application won’t be going to the meeting on July 9, so there’s ample time for those who are in favour to make their voices heard.”

Coun Martin said the football and basketball court had been on the field for about two-and-a-half years, with no complaints about noise until the skate park application was submitted. He said officers would carry out a noise assessment before the application was decided.

He said he was confident the planning committee would support the proposal if it reviewed the evidence and made a site visit.

In the application, the council says the visual and noise impact would be minimised by siting it near the multi-use games area as far away from the houses in Pearl Road as possible.