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In July 2007, with the help
of grants from the Local Network Fund and Community First.
Bishops Castle Skateboarders Association installed two large
steel framed ramps (a quarter pipe and a flatbank) on the
new skatepark on the Playing Field. The final ramp to be
put in place is currently under construction by volunteers
from within the community of Bishops Castle.
The work has mainly been taking
place in the Design-Technology workshops at the Community
College, however it is now too large for the workshop and
can only be worked on outside in the Deliveries Yard ! Two
week long workshops took place during last year's summer
holidays at the Community College; altogether 300 hours
of voluntary work have gone into the construction of the
ramp.
Two adults and twelve young
people, including skaters and young engineers, varying in
age between 12-20 years old, have been helping since the
project started.
Adult volunteers: Fiona Robertson (Carpentry and Secretary
of BCSA) and Richard Vaughn (Young Engineers Coordinator).
Young Volunteers: Derw Robertson-Jacobs, Valentine Kuhl,
Joe Plant, Josh Plant, Piers Limberg, Ben Rowse, Tom Jones,
Tom Baylis, Jesse Rowland, Patrick Hudon, Robert Anthony,
Joseph Sheperdson, Kieran Gardner.
Expenditure on the wooden ramp
was in the region of only £2000 thanks to the high
level of voluntary input. This is a wooden ramp which will
eventually be replaced by a steel framed one, once an additional
£12,000 has been raised. The wooden ramp was installed
onsite at the end of August/early September.
The Bishops Castle Skateboarders
Association would like to thank Bishops Castle Building
Supplies for supplying us with generously discounted timber,
Castlewood Joinery for helping out with the timber machining,
and the Community College, Bishops Castle for providing
us with the appropriate working space. We would also like
to thank all of the volunteers and everyone involved for
their support including the Town Council.
Bishop's Castle Bike Track
is a large area of rough
ground in the corner of Crowgate Business Park on the far
side of the A488 opposite Brick Meadow. A considerable amount
of volunteer effort and discounting by local suppliers made
it possible for the bikers to fence the area, bring top
soil to the ground, layout the site and install a "shed"
for tools. The Town Council has this year budgeted for ongoing
maintenance of the site.
The Old Market Place
at the top of town was renovated in the 1990s and now has
disabled access. It is a popular picnic area with benches
(and bins for the rubbish!) and is well used throughout
the year but particularly at times of festivals and events.
SpArC.
the Bishop's Castle sports and leisure centre, is at present
run by South Shropshire District Council. It is at the A488/B4368
junction and includes a swimming pool, fitness centre, squash
courts, sports hall and theatre. For opening times and charges
of the sports facilities contact: (01588) 630243 or www.southshropshire.gov.uk/leisure
SpArC Theatre.
A 135 seater, purpose built auditorium, fully accessible
and with on site parking available. The adjoining foyer
and refreshment area is licensed to sell alcohol. The current
season of evening productions includes internationally toured
drama, dance, a wildlife presentation and a physical performance
and runs from February to the end of April. Alongside the
live theatre is SpArC Screen, showing in the late afternoon
popular films suitable teenagers and a Decks and VJing live
set. The theatre facilities are also regularly hired by
groups including dance, exercise, workshops, drama, conferences
and training sessions. For ticket reservations and enquiries:
contact (01588) 630321 from 10.00am to 9.00pm weekdays and
10.am to12 pm at weekend. To be kept in touch about events
at SpArC send your e-mail address to Anne-Marie Jackson
at annemarie@castlecommunityleisure.org.uk
and you will be included on the SpArC mailing list.
Sport. Most other sports are
catered for in Bishop's Castle with adult and youth participation.
See below for contacts.
Football: Grant Perry grant.perry@btconnect.com
Cricket: Richard Whateley richard.whately@btinternet.com
Tennis: William Croom Johnson
willcj@tiscali.co.uk
www.bishops-castle-lawn-tennis-club.btik.com
Badminton: Gill Lucas gill@theporchhouse.com
Hockey (women's): Heather Ashton
(01588) 638818.
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