The council is proposing to remove the current facility next to the A10 and convert it for use as a Travellers ‘transit site’, reports Joe Ives

The A10 Wheel Sports Facility, also known as Edmonton Skatepark (credit Joe Ives)

Enfield Council is being urged to scrap plans for relocating a skatepark to make space for Travellers.

The A10 Wheeled Sports Facility, also known as Edmonton Skatepark, has come under threat after the council’s draft Traveller Local Plan (TLP) outlined plans for a ‘transit site’ to accommodate the Traveller community, with a need for one or more permanent stopover locations able to accommodate at least 15 caravans at one time.

When it ran a consultation last autumn, the council had initially proposed using only the public land adjoining the skatepark and allowing the two to exist side-by-side.

However, a feasibility report carried out in response to concerns from stakeholders about the safety of this plan concluded the current site boundary is “insufficient to provide both the required capacity and safe access and egress”.

As a result, if the area is used as a transit site for Travellers, the council now says the skatepark would have to be moved to another location.

Concerns around the proposed A10 Travellers site were set to be raised at a full council meeting in September last year, but the meeting ran out of time after a debate on libraries lasted nearly two hours.

It has not yet been announced where this alternate location would be, or how much it would cost to move the existing skatepark to a new area.

Bush Hill Park councillor James Hockney has criticised the plans, saying they go “against the wishes of the community”.

“The A10 skatepark is a beloved location for skateboarders from across the borough and further afield,” he said. “The council needs to find a more appropriate transit site location.”

Cllr Hockney’s concerns are reinforced by the fact Edmonton Skatepark and its adjoining land is situated on Metropolitan Open Land (MOL), which carries the same protection as Green Belt – with new developments only justified in “exceptional circumstances”.

Edmonton Skatepark was the only location proposed for a transit site in Enfield Council’s draft TLP published last year, citing limited availability of alternative sites within the borough.

The A10 Skatepark Friends Group put forward proposals to improve the site and the surrounding area, with proposals including improvements for the skatepark and turning the closed toilet block into a café and changing rooms. Currently, the adjacent grass area is overgrown and the disused toilet block is falling into a state of disrepair, becoming a magnet for litter and graffiti.

Cllr Hockney discovered the plan to relocate the skatepark after submitting a members enquiry. The council’s response last month stated: “We fully acknowledge and understand the concerns raised by the local skating community regarding the potential loss of this facility. In response, officers have engaged proactively with users to identify opportunities to relocate the skatepark to a site of equal or greater quality, ensuring continuity of provision.

“Importantly, no final decision has yet been made on the proposed use of the A10 site. This will be considered by cabinet and full council in September, following further engagement and as part of the ongoing TLP process.”

The council, like other local planning authorities, is required by the government to organise and implement a strategy for meeting the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers. The TLP outlines how this will be done up until 2041.

In its 2024 draft TLP, Enfield Council said failing to do so “would negatively impact all communities in the borough” as it would “make it harder to resist future speculative planning applications for temporary planning permission, and more challenging to take effective enforcement action against unauthorised encampments”.

Update (24th June):

Council leader Ergin Erbil said: “We have a legal duty to plan for the accommodation needs of our Gypsy and Traveller community. As part of this, the council recently asked for public views on a draft Traveller Local Plan.

“One possible site, near the A10, has been suggested for short-stay use by Travellers. No final decisions have been made about this or any other site.

“Working with my team, we are now reviewing feedback from the consultation. The next version of the plan (called Regulation 19) will need to be approved by the council’s cabinet and full council in September. After that, there will be another public consultation and a full review by an independent Planning Inspector.

“All sites and policies will be carefully assessed to make sure they are suitable and can be delivered. If a site is on protected land like the Green Belt or Metropolitan Open Land, it will have to meet strict rules.

“If the A10 site is chosen and needs more space for access or safety, the nearby skatepark might have to be moved. If that happens, I can reassure the skate park users that we are going to provide an improved skatepark nearby. We have also just launched a brand new skate park at Meridian Water. We prioritise and invest in community and grassroots sports and leisure activities.

“Right now, we are looking at other possible skatepark locations and early design ideas. Once that work is done, the council will speak to skatepark users, residents and the community before making any decisions.

“We are committed to finding a fair, evidence-based solution that meets legal duties, supports all communities, and protects local green spaces.”

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