A DISPUTE over the siting of a new basketball court in Tavistock's Benson's Meadow has been resolved.
Taviskate — an umbrella organisation for local skaters, skateboarders and BMXers — has been negotiating to build a skate park in the meadow for the last three years, but a fortnight ago, youngsters discovered town council workmen hard at work on the site ear-marked for them.
However, a meeting between Taviskate and the town council has resolved the problem. The basketball court has been moved further up the park, to leave adequate space for the ramps.
Bob Pilbeam, chairman of Taviskate, said: 'We had a very constructive meeting at the site. A number of skaters were present, including Bradley Waters, who has designed the park, plus Cllr Peter Donkin, the chairman of the town council's properties committee, Les Bennett, the works superintendent, and the contractor. They agreed to move the basketball posts up to the eastern end and leave enough room for us.'
Now the basketball area has been asphalted and the posts are almost completed.
Last week Taviskate met partnership organisations at West Devon Borough Council.
'We are hopeful of making progress towards signing the partnership agreement,' said Mr Pilbeam. 'We should then be able to go out and start fundraising — you need to be able to demonstrate a lot of committed support, before you qualify for grants and so on.'
Copies of the proposals can be obtained from 'Driftwood' in the Village Arcade on Brook Street. All comments welcome.