A SKATEPARK in front of the Hive is just one of the many ideas people have suggested for the future of outdoor play in the city.

Talks are still underway about the future of Worcester's outdoor parks and play areas as part of a Strategic Play Area consultation, launched in the new year.

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However, with the deadline looming near, here are some of the suggestions residents have made so far. They include a skate park by the Hive and a play area/football pitch on Windermere Drive in Warndon.

As previously reported, Worcester City Council urging residents to voice their opinions on play areas for children and social spaces for young people in a bid to find out which areas are popular and also whether there are areas of the city where people would like to see better space for play or socialising.

One resident said: "There is space in front of the flats on Windemere for a play area/football area for children in the area.

"They are persistently playing football in an enclosed area behind the flats where ball games are not allowed. This results in broken fences and generally degrades the area.

"If children and young people are going to be housed in flats then provision should be made for play and outdoor activities. I believe the flats are owned by Platform Housing."

Another resident said: "There are no parks near the St Clements ward (with the exception of Gheluvelt once the new bridge has been built) - we HAVE to drive to a park as the half an hour walk in each direction with small children isn't achievable."

Another response to the consultation read: "It would be great to make some more outdoor space available to St. Georges CE Primary School.

"Currently they have a very small patch of grass and can't undertake nurturing activities like Forest School. Would it be possible to find some land in Gheluvelt Park or by the Community Garden down by the race course for example that could be made safe for the school to use?"

One respondent wrote:  "I personally think it would be a great idea to put a skatepark by the Hive as a place for younger adults and children to have a place in the city centre to practice and learn new tricks and skills.

"Our current facilities are too far away from the centre or are quite literally falling apart and decaying. Action sports helped me so much growing up and gave me communication skills, taught me to focus and practice and that through dedication and hard work, I could do anything!

"I've always looked at the grassy land underneath the footbridge to the hive as being an excellent place for some sort of street plaza that would be enjoyable for people to stand and watch people skating about a bit like Southbank skatepark in London."

The sentiments were echoed in another response which read: "The amount of skaters that use cathedral square is annoying, but you can't blame them, using it as their only option is Perdiswell, which is quite a distance away.

"A second skatepark closer to the city centre will eradicate this problem as many other cities have either two or more, or close to town skateparks (e.g. Hereford)."

An online consultation is now open, where people can use an interactive map of Worcester to make their views known - go to www.worcester.gov.uk/voiceit.

The consultation does not cover indoor spaces to play and socialise, as these places are mostly run by organisations other than the City Council.

The consultation will run until the end of February 2023.